BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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The GNWT says its public survey on its Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) Act will shape new program policies, but the total number of survey respondents is a little over 100, and an even smaller sub-section of them have actually used the service.
The ATIPP Act is, in part, intended to allow NWT citizens to access and correct their own personal information held by GNWT departments and other public bodies.
A review of the GNWT’s ATIPP was conducted between Sept. 8-29, 2025, through a public survey, questionnaires and online interviews.
According to the GNWT, 24 pre-interview questionaires were completed, 18 online interviews were conducted, and 64 residents of the NWT responded to the online survey.
Of those surveyed online, only 14 have ever made a request for information under the ATIPP Act since August 2021.
Answers to survey questions that were left blank or fell under the “don’t know” options were left out of the results.
When asked if they agreed that the ATIPP process contributes to government transparency and accountability, a plurality of respondents, eight in total, said they strongly disagreed. Two agreed, and three strongly agreed.
Ten of the 14 respondents who used ATIPP in the past said they had to contact government departments for assistance with their request.
Ten respondents felt their requests for information were not acknowledged in a timely way.
Nine respondents reported that the feedback to their information requests was unclear. Three reported that the responses they received were clear, and two responded to the question “neutrally.”
Of the 14 responses regarding overall satisfaction with the ATIPP process, 12 were either strongly dissatisfied or dissatisfied. One was satisfied and one was neutral.
When respondents were asked if they were aware of the role of the Access and Privacy Office within the GNWT and the office’s activities related to ATIPP requests, 16 participants answered no or unsure. The report claims 47 respondents answered yes to this question.
Results for the optional pre-interview survey questionnaire revealed a majority response of “unsure” for the 12 questions answered. Pre-interview survey questionnaires were given to 24 participants, with only 14 of those recorded or considered valid. The pre-interview questions pertained to whether current ATIPP policies and timelines for government responses to ATIPP requests are adequate, and if current ATIPP fees are too high or not high enough.
According to the territorial government’s ‘What We Heard Report’ for these ATIPP review results, the GNWT intends to use the survey results to guide new ATIPP legislation.
“The results of this review are expected to inform next steps for the GNWT Department of Justice with respect to the legislative review and administration of the ATIPP Act,” the report states.
The full ‘What We Heard Report’ is available at haveyoursay.nwt-tno.ca/atipp-review.
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