BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
Do I have the right to request information from a public body?
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 federal government are typically called access to information and privacy (“ATIP”) requests.
BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“BC FIPPA”) provides rights to request both general and personal information from a BC public body. BC’s Personal Information and Privacy Act (“BC PIPA”) provides rights to request personal information from a BC private sector organization. Information requests to a BC public body or private organization are typically called freedom of information (“FOI”) requests.
For more information about which legislation applies to your case, please visit our Canadian Frameworks page.
Updated 2024.07. 27
These pages were last updated and reviewed in the summer of 2024.
The information on these pages only contains general information and guidance; none of the information constitutes legal advice. If you have a specific issue that you believe is a legal problem, the best practice is to consult a lawyer.
The information is non-partisan, dynamic and ever changing. It is the result of FIPA’s research and public education programs.
If you note something that needs to be added, corrected, or removed, please contact us by email: fipa AT fipa.bc.ca.
