You have a right to access your medical records held by a hospital, clinic or care facility operated by the government, or in the electronic health record (EHR) system. Your right to access is limited when there is a legal reason that the information in the record should not be given to you.  You must […]

The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has provided guidance about privacy concerns between landlords and tenants in British Columbia. Simply put, landlords must comply with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Anyone offering rent—whether it is a secondary suite, condo, or apartment—is subject to the rules of PIPA. The rules of PIPA […]

In 2008, BC’s E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act (e-Health Act) was enacted to support the development of the e-Health system.  Under the e-Health Act, the Minister can designate any health database in the public system as a health information bank (HIB) and require it to be filled with information from […]

The Manitoba Ombudsman, in reference to suggestions made by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, has developed a guidance sheet on how to respond to privacy breaches which will be relevant for any jurisdiction.   Summary of the key steps:  Containing the Breach  Change passwords + two-factor verification  Contact the office in […]

Federal public bodies are required to publish the type of information that is under their control. Specifically, federal public bodies organize personal information into personal information banks (PIBs) that are retrievable by name, identifying number, or symbol. PIBs essentially provide a summary of the type of personal information held by government institutions.   Looking up the […]

The purpose of your request is usually irrelevant; however, it may be necessary for you to prove your identity if you are requesting personal information.   A public body typically has a legal duty to assist individuals requesting information.   If your request doesn’t include enough detail, the organization should work with you to identify what you […]

If access to all or part of the information is refused by a private sector organization in BC, they must tell you the reasons for refusal, the section of Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) that applies, and the contact information of an employee who can answer your questions about the refusal. They must also inform […]

The federal public body must tell you if they do not have the records you requested. If they know that another federal public body has them, they should transfer your request and let you know that it has done so. The new federal public body that received your request must then respond to you within […]

Past employees can request all their work emails, as individuals have a right to their personal information; however, the disclosure of work emails will be subject to several exceptions. The rights and rules around accessing work emails largely depend on whether your previous employer was a private sector organization or a public body, and what […]

BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to empower citizens by increasing their access to information and their control over their own personal information. BC FIPA provides public assistance and public legal education.  BC FIPA cannot and does not provide legal advice.  Introduction  The legislation governing access […]

The relevant legislation that provides rights regarding access to information and privacy depends on what information you are requesting and from whom.   The Access to Information Act (“ATIA”) provides rights to request general information from the federal government, while the Privacy Act provides rights to request personal information from the federal government. Requests to the […]

You have the right to access your personal health information held by your healthcare provider. In general, your healthcare provider cannot refuse to let you see the information in your file, except if they believe that the access may put you or someone else at risk.   Typically, the easiest way to access your health records […]