WHAT INFORMATION CAN I ACCESS? You can access any of your personal information under the control of a government institution. For Immigration. Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This can include visa processing details, notes from immigration officers, and visa officers’ assessments. HOW COULD THIS INFORMATION HELP ME? This information can give you a better sense […]

British Columbia’s health sector is mainly governed by two privacy laws. The first is the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) which applies to government bodies including hospitals, health authorities, and clinics. The second is the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) which applies to the private sector offices of doctors and other […]

Your ability to access court records will depend on the court you were attending and the types of charges.   Court files contain many different documents about a legal matter. The public’s access to court files and documents is determined by policies set by the Provincial Court, B.C. Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal. The […]

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 […]

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 […]

Since 2001, the Canadian federal government has undertaken a startling number of programs and initiatives requiring the collection and sharing of vast amounts of previously uncollected personal information of Canadians. Many of these programs have been shown to have inaccuracies in the data resulting in demonstrably arbitrary decision-making.  The most recognizable program is the Passenger […]

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 […]

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has reviewed the Passenger Protect Program and has significant concerns about it. The Commissioner has said that the Passenger Protect Program involves the secretive use of personal information. Some problems include:  The process for putting an individual’s name on the list is secretive and not transparent  Individuals are not told […]