Key Recommendations for Reform of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

BC FIPA has published a list of key recommendations for reform to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act).

FIPA calls for a number of improvements:

reinforcing the ‘public interest’ provision under s. 25;
limiting what the government can do without consent;
increasing the responsibility of public bodies to respond fully to requests and in a timely fashion;
introducing whistleblower protections;
improving the rules regarding retention and destruction of documents;
narrowing the exceptions under s. 14 and 15;
extending the scope of coverage of the Act to the Legislative Assembly;
reviewing all the statutory exceptions from the Act; and,
revisiting the budget of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.