Guide to FOIP The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Table of Contents
Chapter 1 –Purpose and Scope of FOIP Overview...................................................................................................................................... 1 Quasi-Constitutional Status ............................................................................................................ 1 The Purposes of FOIP.................................................................................................................... 2 Object or Purpose Clause............................................................................................................ 2 The Scope of FOIP........................................................................................................................ 6 Government Institutions.............................................................................................................. 6 Subsection 2(1)(d): Definition of a government institution.................................................... 7 Subsection 2(2): Bodies Not Included.................................................................................. 8 FOIP Applies............................................................................................................................. 9 Section 5: Possession or control......................................................................................... 9 Section 24: Personal Information ..................................................................................... 15 FOIP Does Not Apply .............................................................................................................. 15 Subsection 3(1)(a)........................................................................................................... 16 Information Services Corporation (ISC)............................................................................. 17 Subsection 3(1)(b)........................................................................................................... 20 Subsection 3(1)(c) ........................................................................................................... 22 Subsection 3(3)................................................................................................................ 24 Subsection 3(4)................................................................................................................ 24 Subsection 24(1.1)........................................................................................................... 25 Section 23....................................................................................................................... 26 Subsection 23(1) .............................................................................................................. 27 Subsection 23(2) .............................................................................................................. 29 Subsection 23(3) .............................................................................................................. 29 Section 4: Existing Rights Preserved.......................................................................................... 32 Subsection 4(a)................................................................................................................ 34 Subsection 4(b)................................................................................................................ 36 Subsection 4(c)................................................................................................................ 36 Subsection 4(d)................................................................................................................ 38 Subsection 4(e)................................................................................................................ 39 Subsection 4(f) ................................................................................................................ 39
Chapter 2 - Administration of FOIP Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Minister of Justice and Attorney General – Roles & Responsibilities ........................................... 2 Minister’s Annual Report.......................................................................................................... 2 Ministry of Justice and Attorney General .................................................................................. 4 Government Institutions – Roles & Responsibilities ..................................................................... 4 Head of a Government Institution ............................................................................................ 6 The FOIP Coordinator or Privacy Officer.................................................................................. 7 Section 60: Delegation.............................................................................................................. 9 Notices Required by FOIP....................................................................................................... 12 Routine Disclosure & Active Dissemination............................................................................ 14 Proactive Reporting of Privacy Breaches................................................................................. 15 Information & Privacy Commissioner - Roles & Responsibilities............................................... 17 Section 33: Privacy Powers..................................................................................................... 18 Section 38: Appointment........................................................................................................ 20 Section 44: Oath or Affirmation ............................................................................................. 21 Section 46: Confidentiality ..................................................................................................... 22 Section 45: General Powers of Commissioner ........................................................................ 24 Section 45.1: Power to Authorize a Government Institution to Disregard Applications or Requests ................................................................................................................................. 25 Section 47: Non-compellability............................................................................................... 26 Section 50: Refusal to Review................................................................................................ 27 Section 53: Conduct of Review .............................................................................................. 28 Section 54: Powers of Commissioner ..................................................................................... 30 Section 55: Report of Commissioner...................................................................................... 31 Section 62: Annual Report ...................................................................................................... 33 Procedural Fairness................................................................................................................. 33 Court of King’s Bench - Roles & Responsibilities ..................................................................... 35 Section 57: Appeal to Court.................................................................................................... 35 Section 58: Powers of Court on Appeal.................................................................................. 37
Section 61: Burden of Proof ......................................................................................................... 42 Standard Required to Meet Burden of Proof................................................................................ 42 Who has the Burden of Proof .................................................................................................... 45 Affidavit Evidence ................................................................................................................... 47 Offences & Penalties ................................................................................................................... 48 Section 66: Proceedings Prohibited ............................................................................................ 48 Section 67: Immunity from Prosecution ..................................................................................... 49 Section 68: Summary Offences.................................................................................................. 50 Privacy and Access Offences............................................................................................ 53 Not Cooperating with the Commissioner ........................................................................... 54 Chapter 3 – Access to Records Overview...................................................................................................................................... 1 Who Has The Right of Access........................................................................................................ 2 Section 5: Right of Access .......................................................................................................... 3 Processing Access to Information Requests...................................................................................... 5 Name of Applicant is Personal Information .................................................................................. 6 Reason for Request Not Relevant................................................................................................. 7 Questions in Access to Information Requests................................................................................ 7 Verifying Identity....................................................................................................................... 8 Requests Not on “Form A”........................................................................................................ 10 Search for Records ...................................................................................................................... 12 IPC Review of Search Efforts.................................................................................................... 13 Searching Records of Employees............................................................................................... 17 Government Records in Personal Email Accounts....................................................................... 17 Personal Records in Government Email Accounts.............................................................. 21 Records Not Responsive........................................................................................................... 26 Creating Records...................................................................................................................... 28 Section 5.1: Duty to Assist ........................................................................................................... 30 Subsection 5.1(1) ..................................................................................................................... 30 Subsection 5.1(2) ..................................................................................................................... 34 Section 6: Application.................................................................................................................. 35 Subsection 6(1)(a) .................................................................................................................... 35
Subsection 6(1)(b).................................................................................................................... 37 Clarifying vs Narrowing................................................................................................... 38 Subsection 6(2) ........................................................................................................................ 42 Subsection 6(3) ........................................................................................................................ 42 Clarifying vs Narrowing................................................................................................... 43 Subsection 6(4) ........................................................................................................................ 46 Section 7: Response Required....................................................................................................... 46 Subsection 7(1) ........................................................................................................................ 48 Subsection 7(2) ........................................................................................................................ 48 Calculating 30 Days......................................................................................................... 49 Subsection 7(2)(a) .................................................................................................................... 51 Subsection 7(2)(b).................................................................................................................... 52 Subsection 7(2)(c) .................................................................................................................... 53 Subsection 7(2)(d).................................................................................................................... 54 Subsection 7(2)(e) .................................................................................................................... 56 Subsection 7(2)(f)..................................................................................................................... 57 Subsection 7(2)(g).................................................................................................................... 58 Subsection 7(3) ........................................................................................................................ 59 Subsection 7(4) ........................................................................................................................ 59 Subsection 7(5) ........................................................................................................................ 62 Section 7.1: Applications Deemed Abandoned............................................................................... 63 Subsection 7.1(1) ..................................................................................................................... 64 Subsection 7.1(2) ..................................................................................................................... 65 Subsection 7.1(3) ..................................................................................................................... 66 Section 8: Severability ................................................................................................................. 67 Section 9: Fee.............................................................................................................................. 71 Subsection 9(1) ........................................................................................................................ 71 Subsection 9(2) ........................................................................................................................ 72 Creating a Fee Estimate.................................................................................................... 72 Subsection 9(3) ........................................................................................................................ 78 Subsection 9(4) ........................................................................................................................ 78 Subsection 9(5) ........................................................................................................................ 79 Fee Waivers .................................................................................................................... 79
Section 10: Manner of Access....................................................................................................... 87 Subsection 10(1) ...................................................................................................................... 88 Subsection 10(2) ...................................................................................................................... 88 Subsection 10(3) ...................................................................................................................... 90 Subsection 10(4)..................................................................................................................... 92 Section 11: Transfer of Application .......................................................................................... 93 Subsection 11(1)..................................................................................................................... 94 Subsection 11(2)..................................................................................................................... 95 Subsection 11(3)..................................................................................................................... 96 Section 12: Extension of Time ................................................................................................... 97 Subsection 12(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 98 Subsection 12(1)(a)(i) .................................................................................................... 99 Subsection 12(1)(a)(ii) ................................................................................................. 101 Subsection 12(1)(b) .............................................................................................................. 104 Subsection 12(1)(c) .............................................................................................................. 107 Subsection 12(2)................................................................................................................... 108 Subsection 12(3)................................................................................................................... 109 Section 31: Individual’s Access to Personal Information .......................................................... 111 Subsection 31(1)................................................................................................................... 111 Subsection 31(2)................................................................................................................... 112 Section 45.1: Power to Authorize a Government Institution to Disregard Applications or Requests118 Subsection 45.1(1)................................................................................................................ 119 Subsection 45.1(2)(a) ........................................................................................................... 120 Subsection 45.1(2)(b) ........................................................................................................... 124 Subsection 45.1(2)(c) ........................................................................................................... 128 Section 49: Application for Review .......................................................................................... 133 Subsection 49(1)(a) .............................................................................................................. 135 Subsection 49(1)(a.1) ........................................................................................................... 137 Subsection 49(1)(a.2) ........................................................................................................... 138 Subsection 49(1)(a.3) ........................................................................................................... 139 Subsection 49(1)(a.4) ........................................................................................................... 139 Subsection 49(1)(b) .............................................................................................................. 142 Subsection 49(1)(c) .............................................................................................................. 142
Subsection 49(2)................................................................................................................... 143 Subsection 49(3) .................................................................................................................... 144 Subsection 49(4) .................................................................................................................... 145 Section 50: Review or Refusal to Review .................................................................................... 146 Subsection 50(1) .................................................................................................................... 147 Subsection 50(2) .................................................................................................................... 148 Subsection 50(2)(a)........................................................................................................ 149 Subsection 50(2)(a.1) ..................................................................................................... 152 Subsection 50(2)(a.2) ..................................................................................................... 152 Subsection 50(2)(a.3) ..................................................................................................... 152 Subsection 50(2)(a.4) ..................................................................................................... 153 Subsection 50(2)(a.5) ..................................................................................................... 153 Subsection 50(2)(a.6) ..................................................................................................... 154 Subsection 50(2)(a.7) ..................................................................................................... 155 Subsection 50(2)(b) ................................................................................................................ 155 Subsection 50(2)(c) ................................................................................................................ 157 Section 57: Appeal to the Court .................................................................................................. 158 Section 59: Exercise of Rights by Other Persons........................................................................... 161 Subsection 59(a)..................................................................................................................... 162 Subsection 59(b) .................................................................................................................... 164 Subsection 59(c)..................................................................................................................... 166 Subsection 59(d) .................................................................................................................... 168 Subsection 59(e)..................................................................................................................... 171 Section 65: Access to Manuals.................................................................................................... 174 Subsection 65(1) .................................................................................................................... 174 Subsection 65(2) .................................................................................................................... 176 Section 65.1: Records Available Without an Application............................................................... 177 Routine Disclosure ................................................................................................................. 177 Active Dissemination ................................................................................................................... 178 Chapter 4 – Exemptions From the Right of Access Overview...................................................................................................................................... 1 Interpreting Exemptions................................................................................................................. 2
Limited & Specific..................................................................................................................... 4 Balancing Interests..................................................................................................................... 5 Class and Harm - Based Exemptions............................................................................................... 7 Class-based Exemptions ............................................................................................................. 7 Harm-based Exemptions............................................................................................................. 8 Mandatory & Discretionary Exemptions.......................................................................................... 9 Mandatory Exemptions............................................................................................................... 9 Discretionary Exemptions......................................................................................................... 10 Exercise of Discretion...................................................................................................... 11 Public Interest Override ............................................................................................................... 14 Subsection 19(3) ...................................................................................................................... 14 Subsection 29(2)(o) .................................................................................................................. 15 Section 13: Records From Other Governments .............................................................................. 16 Subsection 13(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 17 Subsection 13(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 21 Subsection 13(1)(c) .................................................................................................................. 26 Subsection 13(1)(d) .................................................................................................................. 31 Subsection 13(2) ...................................................................................................................... 35 Section 14: Information Injurious to Intergovernmental Relations or National Defence..................... 39 Subsection 14(a) ...................................................................................................................... 39 Subsection 14(b) ...................................................................................................................... 41 Section 15: Law Enforcement and Investigations ........................................................................... 43 Subsection 15(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 44 Subsection 15(1)(a.1)................................................................................................................ 48 Subsection 15(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 50 Subsection 15(1)(c) .................................................................................................................. 52 Subsection 15(1)(d) .................................................................................................................. 56 Subsection 15(1)(e) .................................................................................................................. 59 Subsection 15(1)(f)................................................................................................................... 62 Subsection 15(1)(g) .................................................................................................................. 65 Subsection 15(1)(h) .................................................................................................................. 69 Subsection 15(1)(i)................................................................................................................... 71 Subsection 15(1)(j)................................................................................................................... 73
Subsection 15(1)(k) .................................................................................................................. 76 Subsection 15(1)(k.1) ............................................................................................................... 81 Subsection 15(1)(k.2) ............................................................................................................... 82 Subsection 15(1)(k.3) ............................................................................................................... 86 Subsection 15(1)(l)................................................................................................................... 88 Subsection 15(1)(m) ................................................................................................................. 90 Subsection 15(2) ...................................................................................................................... 93 Section 16: Cabinet Documents.................................................................................................... 95 Subsection 16(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 100 Subsection 16(1)(b) ................................................................................................................ 106 Subsection 16(1)(c) ................................................................................................................ 113 Subsection 16(1)(d) ................................................................................................................ 118 Subsection 16(2) .................................................................................................................... 123 Subsection 16(2)(a)........................................................................................................ 123 Subsection 16(2)(b) ....................................................................................................... 124 Section 17: Advice From Officials.............................................................................................. 126 Subsection 17(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 129 Subsection 17(1)(b) ................................................................................................................ 137 Subsection 17(1)(c) ................................................................................................................ 143 Subsection 17(1)(d) ................................................................................................................ 148 Subsection 17(1)(e) ................................................................................................................ 152 Subsection 17(1)(f)................................................................................................................. 154 Subsection 17(1)(g) ................................................................................................................ 157 Subsection 17(2) .................................................................................................................... 161 Subsection 17(3) .................................................................................................................... 165 Section 18: Economic and Other Interests ................................................................................... 166 Subsection 18(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 168 Subsection 18(1)(b) ................................................................................................................ 171 Subsection 18(1)(c) ................................................................................................................ 176 Subsection 18(1)(d) ................................................................................................................ 180 Subsection 18(1)(e) ................................................................................................................ 184 Subsection 18(1)(f)................................................................................................................. 189 Subsection 18(1)(g) ................................................................................................................ 192
Subsection 18(1)(h) ................................................................................................................ 195 Subsection 18(2) .................................................................................................................... 198 Section 19: Third Party Business Information .............................................................................. 199 Subsection 19(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 202 Subsection 19(1)(b) ................................................................................................................ 204 Subsection 19(1)(c) ................................................................................................................ 216 Subclause 19(1)(c)(i) ..................................................................................................... 217 Subclause 19(1)(c)(ii) .................................................................................................... 222 Subclause 19(1)(c)(iii) ................................................................................................... 228 Subsection 19(1)(d) ................................................................................................................ 232 Subsection 19(1)(e) ................................................................................................................ 235 Subsection 19(1)(f)................................................................................................................. 238 Subsection 19(2) .................................................................................................................... 241 Subsection 19(3) .................................................................................................................... 242 Section 20: Testing Procedures, Tests and Audits......................................................................... 250 Subsection 20(a) .................................................................................................................... 250 Subsection 20(b) .................................................................................................................... 254 Section 21: Danger to Health or Safety........................................................................................ 257 Section 22: Solicitor-Client Privilege.......................................................................................... 261 Subsection 22(a) .................................................................................................................... 262 Solicitor-client privilege................................................................................................. 264 Case-by-Case Privilege .................................................................................................. 277 Common Interest Privilege............................................................................................. 279 Legislative Privilege ...................................................................................................... 281 Litigation Privilege........................................................................................................ 283 Settlement Privilege....................................................................................................... 290 Subsection 22(b) .................................................................................................................... 291 Subsection 22(c) .................................................................................................................... 293 Subsection 23: Confidentiality Provisions in Other Enactments..................................................... 295 Subsection 29(1): Disclosure of Personal Information .................................................................. 296 Section 30: Personal Information of Deceased Individual ............................................................. 297 Subsection 30(1) .................................................................................................................... 297 Subsection 30(2) .................................................................................................................... 298
Section 31: Access to Personal Information ................................................................................. 299 Subsection 31(1) .................................................................................................................... 300 Subsection 31(2) .................................................................................................................... 300 Chapter 5 – Third Party Information Overview...................................................................................................................................... 1 Quick Reference 1: Third party timelines......................................................................................... 2 Quick Reference 2: Contracting with government institutions............................................................ 4 Section 2: Definition of a third party................................................................................................ 9 Section 19: Third party information............................................................................................... 11 Subsection 19(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 14 Subsection 19(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 16 Subsection 19(1)(c) .................................................................................................................. 28 Subsection 19(1)(c)(i) ...................................................................................................... 29 Subsection 19(1)(c)(ii) ..................................................................................................... 35 Subsection 19(1)(c)(iii) .................................................................................................... 40 Subsection 19(1)(d) .................................................................................................................. 45 Subsection 19(1)(e) .................................................................................................................. 48 Subsection 19(1)(f)................................................................................................................... 51 Subsection 19(2) ...................................................................................................................... 55 Subsection 19(3) ...................................................................................................................... 56 Section 29: Disclosure of Personal Information .............................................................................. 64 Subsection 29(2)(o): Disclosure of personal information.............................................................. 64 Subsection 29(2)(o)(i) ...................................................................................................... 64 Subsection 29(2)(o)(ii) ..................................................................................................... 71 Section 34: Notice to third party.................................................................................................... 76 Subsection 34(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 77 The absence of standing................................................................................................... 79 Subsection 34(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 82 The absence of standing................................................................................................... 83 Subsection 34(2) ...................................................................................................................... 86 Subsection 34(2)(a) .................................................................................................................. 86 Subsection 34(2)(b) .................................................................................................................. 88
Subsection 34(3) ...................................................................................................................... 91 Subsection 34(4) ...................................................................................................................... 93 Section 35: Waiver of notice......................................................................................................... 94 Section 36: Right to make representations...................................................................................... 94 Subsection 36(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 95 Subsection 36(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 96 Subsection 36(2) ...................................................................................................................... 99 Section 37: Decision .................................................................................................................... 99 Subsection 37(1)(a) ................................................................................................................ 101 Subsection 37(1)(b) ................................................................................................................ 102 Subsection 37(2) .................................................................................................................... 104 Subsection 37(2)(a) ................................................................................................................ 105 Subsection 37(2)(b) ................................................................................................................ 107 Subsection 37(3) .................................................................................................................... 108 Subsection 37(4) .................................................................................................................... 110 Section 49: Application for review.............................................................................................. 112 Subsection 49(1) .................................................................................................................... 113 Subsection 49(2) .................................................................................................................... 114 Subsection 49(3) .................................................................................................................... 116 Subsection 49(4) .................................................................................................................... 117 Section 52: Notice of application for review................................................................................. 120 Section 53: Conduct of review.................................................................................................... 121 Section 55: Report of commissioner............................................................................................ 123 Section 56: Decision of head....................................................................................................... 125 Section 57: Appeal to court......................................................................................................... 127 Chapter 6 – Protection of Privacy Overview...................................................................................................................................... 1 The Right of Privacy...................................................................................................................... 2 Privacy as a Charter Right........................................................................................................... 4 Privacy versus Confidentiality ..................................................................................................... 5 The Threat of Identity Theft........................................................................................................ 6 10 Fair Information Principles ...................................................................................................... 10 Accountability.......................................................................................................................... 12
Identifying Purposes................................................................................................................. 12 Consent ................................................................................................................................... 13 Limiting Collection .................................................................................................................. 13 Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention ..................................................................................... 13 Accuracy ................................................................................................................................. 14 Safeguards............................................................................................................................... 14 Openness................................................................................................................................. 15 Individual Access..................................................................................................................... 15 Challenging Compliance........................................................................................................... 15 Need-to-Know Principle............................................................................................................... 16 Data Minimization Principle......................................................................................................... 17 De-identified information ............................................................................................................. 18 Necessary, Effective & Proportional.............................................................................................. 24 Consent Requirements ................................................................................................................. 25 Best Practice Steps for Consent Forms....................................................................................... 29 Section 24: Definition of Personal Information............................................................................... 30 What is not Personal Information?............................................................................................. 36 Subsection 24(1)(a) .................................................................................................................. 38 Subsection 24(1)(b) .................................................................................................................. 42 Subsection 24(1)(d) .................................................................................................................. 45 Subsection 24(1)(e) .................................................................................................................. 47 Subsection 24(1)(f)................................................................................................................... 50 Subsection 24(1)(g) .................................................................................................................. 52 Subsection 24(1)(h) .................................................................................................................. 56 Subsection 24(1)(i)................................................................................................................... 58 Subsection 24(1)(j)................................................................................................................... 61 Subsection 24(1)(k) .................................................................................................................. 63 Subsection 24(1)(k)(i) ...................................................................................................... 64 Subsection 24(1)(k)(ii) ..................................................................................................... 66 Subsection 24(1.1).................................................................................................................... 67 Subsection 24(1.2).................................................................................................................... 69 Subsection 24(2)(a) .................................................................................................................. 71 Subsection 24(2)(b) .................................................................................................................. 74
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