ATIP Requests

ATIP Requests


Do I have a right to my personal information from a private sector organization?

Private sector organizations generally must give you access to your personal information; however, there are exceptions, which differ depending on whether BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), or the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) applies to the organization.  Under PIPA, an organization may refuse to give you access to your personal […]

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How much does an information request cost? 

There is usually no fee for you to request your personal information. In some cases, a fee may apply to general information requests, but you have the right to file a complaint about the fee or request the fee to be waived for justified reasons.   For example, under BC’s Personal Information Protection Act, private sector […]

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What happens if the private sector organization refuses access to my personal information?

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 […]

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What is the timeline of an information request?

Once a request is submitted, the information holder usually has 30 days to respond to the request; however, it is common for the information holder to extend the response deadline by an additional 30 days. Information holders can extend the response deadline if it is approved by the Privacy Commissioner, if the requestor has not […]

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What if I believe my information request has not been properly fulfilled or the information is incorrect?

You have the right to submit a complaint if you believe that either your request has not been properly fulfilled or you have been mistreated. If you live in BC, you can file a complaint through the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia for matters involving private sector organizations or provincial […]

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Can my information request be refused?

Reasons for refusal depend on the information you are requesting and from whom. If an information holder refuses your request partially or fully, the information holder must explain the refusal to you.   List of some reasons a request could be refused:  The disclosure would compromise an investigation or law enforcement operation  The disclosure would risk […]

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What happens if the public body does not have the record I want?

The information holder should tell you if they do not have the records you requested. If they know that a different institution has them, they should transfer your request and inform you that the request has been transferred. The institution that received your request must then respond to you within 30 business days of the […]

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What are personal information banks?

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 […]

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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 […]

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Does the purpose of my request matter and does the public body have a duty to assist me?

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 […]

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What if the federal public body does not have the records I requested?

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 […]

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What is the timeline for my existing ATIP request to a public body?

Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests can be used to access your personal information or government records from a federal public body. Federal public bodies have 30 days to respond to a formal ATIP request, but this time limit can be extended for up to another 30 days. The two reasons a request can […]

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