Lawyers

Esther Shainblum
Esther Shainblum

Partner

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Ottawa

call (877) 942-0001 ext 302

Esther Shainblum practices at Carters Professional Corporation in the areas of charity and not for profit law, privacy law and health law. She has has been recognized as a leading expert by Lexpert and The Best Lawyers in Canada, and Chambers and Partners. From 2005 to 2017 Ms. Shainblum was General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer for Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, a national, not-for-profit, charitable home and community care organization. In that capacity Ms. Shainblum provided support to the board, management and staff in a variety of areas including governance, risk management, privacy and access to information, compliance and corporate/commercial matters. Before joining VON Canada, Ms. Shainblum was Senior Policy Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Health, advising the Minister on a wide range of portfolios, including hospitals, long term care and health care professions. Earlier in her career, Ms. Shainblum practiced health law and corporate/commercial law at McMillan Binch and spent a number of years working in policy development at Queen’s Park. Ms. Shainblum obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University, her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and her Master of Laws, Health Law from Dalhousie Law School, Health Law Institute. She also holds the Canadian Risk Management Designation (CRM).
  • B.A McGill University (1980)
  • LL.B Osgoode Hall Law School (1984)
  • LLM. Health Law from Dalhousie Law School Health Law Institute (1987)
  • Ontario Bar (1988)
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Publications

New OPC Guidance on Age Verification and Privacy

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (“OPC”) has released a draft guidance (“Guidance”) on the use of “age---

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Carters Third Webinar in the Winter/Spring Series – Contract Essentials for Charities and NFPs

  On April 7, 2026, Esther Shainblum and Barry Kwasniewski presented Contract Essentials for Charities and NFPs. The webinar examined how charities’---

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AI Regulation Must Be Anchored in Privacy Law, says Privacy Commissioner

  Artificial intelligence regulation in Canada must be grounded in modernized privacy legislation that recognizes privacy as a fundamental right---

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Provincial Regulator Weighs in on AI Transcription Tools After Hospital Privacy Breach

In a letter dated October 27, 2025, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (the “IPC”) addressed a self-reported breach---

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Speaking Engagements & Seminar Materials

Conflicts of Interest for Lawyers who Work with Charities and Not-for-Profits

by Esther Shainblum at the Ontario Bar Association on Feb 26, 2025.

IT and Data Management: Board Governance Issues to Consider

by Esther Shainblum and Cameron A. Axford during the Annual Charity & Not-for-Profit Law Webinar on Nov 14, 2024.

Privacy Issues Affecting Charities

was presented by Esther Shainblum at the Ontario Bar Association's Institute 2019 on February 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario.

Critical Privacy Issues Involving Children's Programs

Critical Privacy Issues Involving Children's Programs