1 Guide to LA FOIP The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Table of Contents Overview ............................................................................................................................................1 Quasi-Constitutional Status..................................................................................................................1 The Purposes of LA FOIP....................................................................................................................2 Object or Purpose Clause .................................................................................................................2 The Scope of LA FOIP ........................................................................................................................6 Local Authority ...............................................................................................................................6 Subsection 2(f): Definition of a local authority.........................................................................7 LA FOIP Applies.............................................................................................................................9 Section 5: Possession or Control..............................................................................................9 Section 23: Personal Information...........................................................................................15 LA FOIP Does Not Apply..............................................................................................................16 Subsection 3(1)(a).................................................................................................................16 Information Services Corporation (ISC)..................................................................................18 Subsection 3(1)(b).................................................................................................................20 Subsection 3(1)(c).................................................................................................................22 Subsection 23(1.1) ................................................................................................................23 Section 22.............................................................................................................................26 Subsection 22(1) ....................................................................................................................27 Subsection 22(2) ....................................................................................................................29 Subsection 22(3) ....................................................................................................................29 Section 4: Existing Rights Preserved ..............................................................................................31 Subsection 4(a) .....................................................................................................................33 Subsection 4(b) .....................................................................................................................35 Subsection 4(c) .....................................................................................................................35 Subsection 4(d) .....................................................................................................................37 Subsection 4(e) .....................................................................................................................38 Chapter 2 - Table of Contents Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Minister of Justice and Attorney General – Roles & Responsibilities ................................................... 2 Ministry of Justice and Attorney General......................................................................................... 2 Local Authorities – Roles & Responsibilities....................................................................................... 3
Head of a Local Authority............................................................................................................... 5 The LA FOIP Coordinator or Privacy Officer .................................................................................. 7 Section 50: Delegation .................................................................................................................... 9 Notices Required by LA FOIP....................................................................................................... 11 Routine Disclosure & Active Dissemination .................................................................................. 14 Proactive Reporting of Privacy Breaches ....................................................................................... 15 Information & Privacy Commissioner - Roles & Responsibilities ...................................................... 17 Section 38: Appointment............................................................................................................... 18 Procedural Fairness....................................................................................................................... 19 Section 32: Privacy Powers ........................................................................................................... 21 Section 39: Review or Refusal to Review ...................................................................................... 23 Section 42: Conduct of Review ..................................................................................................... 24 Section 43: Powers of Commissioner............................................................................................. 25 Section 43.1: Power to Authorize a Local Authority to Disregard Applications or Requests 26 Section 44: Report of Commissioner ............................................................................................. 28 Section 45 (FOIP): General Powers of Commissioner .................................................................... 29 Section 46 (FOIP): Confidentiality ................................................................................................ 31 Section 47 (FOIP): Non-compellability.......................................................................................... 34 Section 48: Certain Provisions Adopted......................................................................................... 35 Section 52: Annual Report ............................................................................................................ 35 Court of King’s Bench - Roles & Responsibilities ............................................................................. 36 Section 46: Appeal to Court .......................................................................................................... 36 Section 47: Powers of Court on Appeal ......................................................................................... 38 Section 51: Burden of Proof.............................................................................................................. 43 Standard Required to Meet Burden of Proof................................................................................... 43 Who has the Burden of Proof ........................................................................................................ 46 Affidavit Evidence.........................................................................................................................48 Offences & Penalties .........................................................................................................................49 Section 54: Proceedings Prohibited.................................................................................................49 Section 55: Immunity from Prosecution..........................................................................................50 Section 56: Summary Offences ......................................................................................................51 Privacy and Access Offences.................................................................................................54 Not Cooperating with the Commissioner ...............................................................................55
Section 66(3) (FOIP): Proceedings Prohibited.................................................................................57 Chapter 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS 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................................................................................... 8 Verifying Identity ........................................................................................................................... 9 Requests Not on “Form A”............................................................................................................ 11 Search for Records ........................................................................................................................... 12 IPC Review of Search Efforts........................................................................................................ 13 Searching Records of Employees................................................................................................... 17 Local Authority Records in Personal Email Accounts ........................................................... 18 Personal Records in Local Authority 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) ..............................................................................................................................49 Calculating 30 Days ..............................................................................................................49
Subsection 7(2)(a)..........................................................................................................................52 Subsection 7(2)(b)..........................................................................................................................53 Subsection 7(2)(c)..........................................................................................................................54 Subsection 7(2)(d)..........................................................................................................................55 Subsection 7(2)(e)..........................................................................................................................57 Subsection 7(2)(f) ..........................................................................................................................58 Subsection 7(2)(g)..........................................................................................................................59 Subsection 7(3) ..............................................................................................................................60 Subsection 7(4) ..............................................................................................................................60 Subsection 7(5) ..............................................................................................................................63 Section 7.1: Applications Deemed Abandoned ...................................................................................64 Subsection 7.1(1) ...........................................................................................................................64 Subsection 7.1(2) ...........................................................................................................................66 Subsection 7.1(3) ...........................................................................................................................66 Section 8: Severability.......................................................................................................................67 Section 9: Fee....................................................................................................................................71 Subsection 9(1) ..............................................................................................................................72 Subsection 9(2) ..............................................................................................................................72 Creating a Fee Estimate.........................................................................................................73 Subsection 9(3) ..............................................................................................................................79 Subsection 9(4) ..............................................................................................................................80 Subsection 9(5) ..............................................................................................................................80 Fee Waivers .......................................................................................................................... 81 Section 10: Manner of Access............................................................................................................89 Subsection 10(1) ............................................................................................................................90 Subsection 10(2) ............................................................................................................................90 Subsection 10(3) ............................................................................................................................93 Subsection 10(4) ............................................................................................................................95 Section 11: Transfer of Application....................................................................................................95 Subsection 11(1) ............................................................................................................................97 Subsection 11(2) ............................................................................................................................98 Subsection 11(3) ............................................................................................................................99 Subsection 11(4) .......................................................................................................................... 100
Section 12: Extension of Time .........................................................................................................100 Subsection 12(1)(a) ...................................................................................................................... 101 Subsection 12(1)(a)(i) ......................................................................................................... 102 Subsection 12(1)(a)(ii) ........................................................................................................ 104 Subsection 12(1)(b)...................................................................................................................... 107 Subsection 12(1)(c) ...................................................................................................................... 110 Subsection 12(2) .......................................................................................................................... 112 Subsection 12(3) .......................................................................................................................... 113 Section 30: Individual’s Access to Personal Information...................................................................114 Subsection 30(1) .......................................................................................................................... 115 Subsection 30(2) .......................................................................................................................... 116 Subsection 30(3) .......................................................................................................................... 122 Subsection 30(3)(a) ............................................................................................................. 122 Subsection 30(3)(b)............................................................................................................. 126 Section 38: Application for Review..................................................................................................130 Subsection 38(1)(a) ...................................................................................................................... 132 Subsection 38(1)(a.1) ...................................................................................................................133 Subsection 38(1)(a.2) ...................................................................................................................135 Subsection 38(1)(a.3) ...................................................................................................................135 Subsection 38(1)(a.4) ...................................................................................................................136 Subsection 38(1)(b)......................................................................................................................138 Subsection 38(1)(c) ...................................................................................................................... 139 Subsection 38(2) .......................................................................................................................... 140 Subsection 38(3) .......................................................................................................................... 140 Subsection 38(4) .......................................................................................................................... 142 Section 39: Review or Refusal to Review.........................................................................................143 Subsection 39(1) .......................................................................................................................... 143 Subsection 39(2) .......................................................................................................................... 144 Subsection 39(2)(a) ............................................................................................................. 145 Subsection 39(2)(a.1) .......................................................................................................... 148 Subsection 39(2)(a.2) .......................................................................................................... 149 Subsection 39(2)(a.3) .......................................................................................................... 149 Subsection 39(2)(a.4) .......................................................................................................... 149
Subsection 39(2)(a.5) .......................................................................................................... 150 Subsection 39(2)(a.6) .......................................................................................................... 150 Subsection 39(2)(a.7) .......................................................................................................... 151 Subsection 39(2)(b)............................................................................................................. 152 Subsection 39(2)(c) ............................................................................................................. 154 Section 43.1: Power to Authorize a Local Authority to Disregard Applications or Requests 155 Subsection 43.1(1) ....................................................................................................................... 155 Subsection 43.1(2)(a) ................................................................................................................... 156 Subsection 43.1(2)(b) ................................................................................................................... 161 Subsection 43.1(2)(c) ...................................................................................................................166 Section 46: Appeal to the Court .......................................................................................................170 Section 49: Exercise of Rights by Other Persons ..............................................................................174 Subsection 49(a) ..........................................................................................................................175 Subsection 49(b) .......................................................................................................................... 177 Subsection 49(c) ..........................................................................................................................179 Subsection 49(d) .......................................................................................................................... 180 Subsection 49(e) ..........................................................................................................................184 Section 53.1: Access to Manuals......................................................................................................186 Subsection 53.1(1) .......................................................................................................................187 Subsection 53.1(2) .......................................................................................................................189 Section 53.2: Records Available Without an Application..................................................................189 Routine Disclosure....................................................................................................................... 190 Active Dissemination ................................................................................................................... 190 Chapter 4 - TABLE OF CONTENTS 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.................................................................................................................... 13 Subsection 18(3)........................................................................................................................... 14 Subsection 28(2)(n)....................................................................................................................... 15 Subsection 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(1)(e)....................................................................................................................... 36 Subsection 13(2)........................................................................................................................... 40 Section 14: Law Enforcement and Investigations .............................................................................. 44 Subsection 14(1)(a)....................................................................................................................... 45 Subsection 14(1)(a.1).................................................................................................................... 49 Subsection 14(1)(b)....................................................................................................................... 51 Subsection 14(1)(c)....................................................................................................................... 54 Subsection 14(1)(d)....................................................................................................................... 57 Subsection 14(1)(e)....................................................................................................................... 61 Subsection 14(1)(f) ....................................................................................................................... 63 Subsection 14(1)(g)........................................................................................................................67 Subsection 14(1)(h)........................................................................................................................71 Subsection 14(1)(i) ........................................................................................................................72 Subsection 14(1)(j) ........................................................................................................................75 Subsection 14(1)(k)........................................................................................................................78 Subsection 14(1)(k.1).....................................................................................................................82 Subsection 14(1)(k.2).....................................................................................................................84 Subsection 14(1)(k.3).....................................................................................................................88 Subsection 14(1)(l) ........................................................................................................................90 Subsection 14(1)(m) ......................................................................................................................91 Subsection 14(2) ............................................................................................................................ 94 Section 15: Documents of a Local Authority......................................................................................96
Subsection 15(1)(a) ........................................................................................................................ 96 Subsection 15(1)(b)(i) .................................................................................................................... 99 Subsection 15(1)(b)(ii) ................................................................................................................. 103 Subsection 15(2) .......................................................................................................................... 106 Section 16: Advice from Officials.................................................................................................... 107 Subsection 16(1)(a)...................................................................................................................... 110 Subsection 16(1)(b)...................................................................................................................... 118 Subsection 16(1)(c)...................................................................................................................... 124 Subsection 16(1)(d)...................................................................................................................... 129 Subsection 16(1)(e)...................................................................................................................... 133 Subsection 16(2) .......................................................................................................................... 137 Subsection 16(3) .......................................................................................................................... 140 Section 17: Economic and Other Interests ........................................................................................ 141 Subsection 17(1)(a)...................................................................................................................... 143 Subsection 17(1)(b)...................................................................................................................... 146 Subsection 17(1)(c)...................................................................................................................... 151 Subsection 17(1)(d)...................................................................................................................... 155 Subsection 17(1)(e)...................................................................................................................... 159 Subsection 17(1)(f) ...................................................................................................................... 164 Subsection 17(1)(g)...................................................................................................................... 167 Subsection 17(2) .......................................................................................................................... 170 Subsection 17(3) .......................................................................................................................... 172 Subsection 17(4) .......................................................................................................................... 174 Section 18: Third Party Business Information .................................................................................. 174 Subsection 18(1)(a)...................................................................................................................... 177 Subsection 18(1)(b)...................................................................................................................... 179 Subsection 18(1)(c)...................................................................................................................... 189 Subclause 18(1)(c)(i)........................................................................................................... 190 Subsection 18(1)(c)(ii) ........................................................................................................ 195 Subclause 18(1)(c)(iii) ........................................................................................................ 201 Subsection 18(1)(d)...................................................................................................................... 205 Subsection 18(2) .......................................................................................................................... 208 Subsection 18(3) .......................................................................................................................... 209
Section 19: Testing Procedures, Tests and Audits............................................................................. 217 Subsection 19(a) .......................................................................................................................... 217 Subsection 19(b) .......................................................................................................................... 221 Section 20: Danger to Health or Safety ............................................................................................ 225 Section 21: Solicitor-Client Privilege............................................................................................... 229 Subsection 21(a) .......................................................................................................................... 229 Solicitor-client privilege...................................................................................................... 232 Common Interest Privilege.................................................................................................. 245 Litigation Privilege ............................................................................................................. 247 Settlement Privilege ............................................................................................................ 255 Subsection 21(b) .......................................................................................................................... 256 Subsection 21(c) .......................................................................................................................... 257 Subsection 22: Confidentiality Provisions in Other Enactments ........................................................ 259 Subsection 28(1): Disclosure of Personal Information ...................................................................... 260 Section 29: Personal Information of Deceased Individual ................................................................. 261 Subsection 29(1) .......................................................................................................................... 261 Subsection 29(2) .......................................................................................................................... 262 Section 30: Access to Personal Information...................................................................................... 263 Subsection 30(1) .......................................................................................................................... 264 Subsection 30(2) .......................................................................................................................... 265 Subsection 30(3) .......................................................................................................................... 270 Subsection 30(3)(a)............................................................................................................. 271 Subsection 30(3)(b)............................................................................................................. 275 Chapter 5 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Quick Reference 1: Third Party Timelines........................................................................................... 2 Quick Reference 2: Contracting with Local Authorities ....................................................................... 4 Section 2: Definition of a third party ................................................................................................... 7 Section 18: Third Party Information .................................................................................................... 9 Subsection 18(1)(a)....................................................................................................................... 12 Subsection 18(1)(b)....................................................................................................................... 14 Subsection 18(1)(c)....................................................................................................................... 24
Subsection 18(1)(c)(i) .......................................................................................................... 25 Subsection 18(1)(c)(ii) ......................................................................................................... 30 Subsection 18(1)(c)(iii) ........................................................................................................ 36 Subsection 18(1)(d)....................................................................................................................... 40 Subsection 18(2) ........................................................................................................................... 43 Subsection 18(3) ........................................................................................................................... 44 Section 28: Disclosure of Personal Information ................................................................................. 51 Subsection 28(2)(n): Disclosure of Personal Information................................................................ 52 Section 33: Notice to third party........................................................................................................ 63 Subsection 33(1)(a)....................................................................................................................... 65 The absence of standing ....................................................................................................... 67 Subsection 33(1)(b)....................................................................................................................... 69 The absence of standing ....................................................................................................... 71 Subsection 33(2) ........................................................................................................................... 73 Subsection 33(2)(a)....................................................................................................................... 74 Subsection 33(2)(b)....................................................................................................................... 76 Subsection 33(3) ........................................................................................................................... 78 Subsection 33(4) ........................................................................................................................... 80 Section 34: Waiver of notice............................................................................................................. 81 Section 35: Right to make representations ......................................................................................... 81 Subsection 35(1)(a)....................................................................................................................... 82 Subsection 35(1)(b)....................................................................................................................... 83 Subsection 35(2) ............................................................................................................................86 Section 36: Decision..........................................................................................................................86 Subsection 36(1)(a) ........................................................................................................................ 88 Subsection 36(1)(b)........................................................................................................................89 Subsection 36(2) ............................................................................................................................91 Subsection 36(2)(a) ........................................................................................................................ 92 Subsection 36(2)(b)........................................................................................................................94 Subsection 36(3) ............................................................................................................................95 Subsection 36(4) ............................................................................................................................97 Section 38: Application for review.....................................................................................................98 Subsection 38(1) .......................................................................................................................... 100
Subsection 38(2) .......................................................................................................................... 101 Subsection 38(3) .......................................................................................................................... 103 Subsection 38(4) .......................................................................................................................... 104 Section 41: Notice of application for review.....................................................................................106 Section 42: Conduct of review .........................................................................................................107 Section 44: Report of commissioner.................................................................................................109 Section 45: Decision of head............................................................................................................ 110 Section 46: Appeal to court.............................................................................................................. 112 Chapter 6 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 8 The Right of Privacy .......................................................................................................................... 9 Privacy as a Charter Right ............................................................................................................. 11 Privacy versus Confidentiality....................................................................................................... 12 The Threat of Identity Theft .......................................................................................................... 13 10 Fair Information Principles .......................................................................................................... 17 Accountability .............................................................................................................................. 19 Identifying Purposes ..................................................................................................................... 19 Consent ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Limiting Collection....................................................................................................................... 20 Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention......................................................................................... 20 Accuracy ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Safeguards .................................................................................................................................... 21 Openness ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Individual Access.......................................................................................................................... 22 Challenging Compliance ............................................................................................................... 22 Need-to-Know Principle ................................................................................................................... 23 Data Minimization Principle ............................................................................................................. 24 De-identified information ................................................................................................................. 25 Necessary, Effective & Proportional ................................................................................................. 31 Consent Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 32 Best Practice Steps for Consent Forms .......................................................................................... 36 Section 23: Definition of Personal Information.................................................................................. 37
What is not Personal Information?................................................................................................. 42 Subsection 23(1)(a) ....................................................................................................................... 45 Subsection 23(1)(b)....................................................................................................................... 49 Subsection 23(1)(c) ....................................................................................................................... 52 Subsection 23(1)(d)....................................................................................................................... 55 Subsection 23(1)(e)........................................................................................................................57 Subsection 23(1)(f) ........................................................................................................................60 Subsection 23(1)(g)........................................................................................................................63 Subsection 23(1)(h)........................................................................................................................66 Subsection 23(1)(i) ........................................................................................................................68 Subsection 23(1)(j) ........................................................................................................................71 Subsection 23(1)(k)........................................................................................................................73 Subsection 23(1)(k)(i) ...........................................................................................................74 Subsection 23(1)(k)(ii) ..........................................................................................................76 Subsection 23(1.1) .........................................................................................................................77 Subsection 23(2)(a) ........................................................................................................................ 80 Subsection 23(2)(b)........................................................................................................................83 Subsection 23(2)(c) ........................................................................................................................ 85 Subsection 23(2)(d)........................................................................................................................87 Subsection 23(2)(e) ........................................................................................................................ 90 Subsection 23(2)(f) ........................................................................................................................93 Subsection 23(3) ............................................................................................................................93 Section 23.1: Duty of local authority to protect...................................................................................96 Safeguards .....................................................................................................................................97 Administrative ......................................................................................................................98 Technical ............................................................................................................................ 103 Physical .............................................................................................................................. 111 Subsection 23.1(a) ....................................................................................................................... 114 Subsection 23.1(b) ....................................................................................................................... 116 Subsection 23.1(b)(i)........................................................................................................... 116 Subsection 23.1(b)(ii).......................................................................................................... 119 Subsection 23.1(b)(iii)......................................................................................................... 120 Subsection 23.1(c) ....................................................................................................................... 123
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