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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

To request 911 records, an applicant must directly contact and request from the originating emergency agency. For example, if a police department was involved, that specific police department in the relevant jurisdiction should be contacted. Please see E-Comm’s 911 website for more information.   Requests for audio recordings of 911 calls may be denied based on […]

The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has provided guidance about privacy concerns between landlords and tenants in British Columbia. Simply put, landlords must comply with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Anyone offering rent—whether it is a secondary suite, condo, or apartment—is subject to the rules of PIPA. The rules of PIPA […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]