Public institutions

Public institutions


How does BC’s health sector respect your personal health information privacy? 

British Columbia’s health sector is mainly governed by two privacy laws. The first is the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) which applies to government bodies including hospitals, health authorities, and clinics. The second is the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) which applies to the private sector offices of doctors and other […]

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How do I access Court Records in BC?

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 […]

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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 FIPA’s Analysis of the Public Interest Disclosure Under BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act?

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 […]

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What is the No-Fly List / Passenger Protect Program?

Since 2001, the Canadian federal government has undertaken a startling number of programs and initiatives requiring the collection and sharing of vast amounts of previously uncollected personal information of Canadians. Many of these programs have been shown to have inaccuracies in the data resulting in demonstrably arbitrary decision-making.  The most recognizable program is the Passenger […]

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What are the privacy risks of the No-Fly List?

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has reviewed the Passenger Protect Program and has significant concerns about it. The Commissioner has said that the Passenger Protect Program involves the secretive use of personal information. Some problems include:  The process for putting an individual’s name on the list is secretive and not transparent  Individuals are not told […]

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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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Do I have a right to access my records held by hospitals or other government facilities?

You have a right to access your medical records held by a hospital, clinic or care facility operated by the government, or in the electronic health record (EHR) system. Your right to access is limited when there is a legal reason that the information in the record should not be given to you.  You must […]

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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 is BC’s e-Health framework?

In 2008, BC’s E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act (e-Health Act) was enacted to support the development of the e-Health system.  Under the e-Health Act, the Minister can designate any health database in the public system as a health information bank (HIB) and require it to be filled with information from […]

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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 are the key steps to respond to privacy breaches as an organization?

The Manitoba Ombudsman, in reference to suggestions made by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, has developed a guidance sheet on how to respond to privacy breaches which will be relevant for any jurisdiction.   Summary of the key steps:  Containing the Breach  Change passwords + two-factor verification  Contact the office in […]

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