Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision

OTTAWA — A decision that could have a major impact on the digital privacy rights of Canadians comes down this week at the Supreme Court of Canada.

The high court will brief journalists today in advance of Thursday's ruling in the case of Kevin Fearon, who robbed a jewelry kiosk at a Toronto flea market in 2009.

At issue is the seizure and search by police of Fearon's cellphone after investigators caught Fearon and found the phone in his pocket.

Fearon's lawyer argued the search and seizure breached his client's privacy rights.

But the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that, because the phone was unlocked and not protected by a password, the search and seizure was lawful.

Here are some of the events taking place today in Ottawa:

— Statistics Canada releases the Canadian Income Survey for 2012, along with a study on life satisfaction among recent immigrants to Canada;

— Bloc MPs Louis Plamondon and Mario Beaulieu hold a news conference to talk about the fall sitting of Parliament;

— The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies discusses the urgent need for action to address the circumstances of those who are criminalized and imprisoned because of disabling mental health issues;

— Three organizations who have been digging into the Sept. 11 for many years hold a press conference;

— The Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz holds a news conference after the bank releases the December issue of the Financial System Review.