In Canada, the Access to Information Act
allows citizens to demand records from federal bodies
. The act came into force in 1983, under the Pierre Trudeau government, permitting Canadians to retrieve information from government files, establishing what information could be accessed, mandating timelines for response.
What is the purpose of the Access to Information Act?
2 (1) The purpose of this Act is
to enhance the accountability and transparency of federal institutions in order to promote an open and democratic society and to enable public debate on the conduct of those institutions
.
Does Canada have a FOIA equivalent?
The Access to Information Act gives
every Canadian citizen
, permanent resident, individual or corporation in Canada the right to request access to records that are under the control of federal government institutions, regardless of their format.
What information can be given under the Freedom of Information Act?
The Act covers
all recorded information held by a public authority
. It is not limited to official documents and it covers, for example, drafts, emails, notes, recordings of telephone conversations and CCTV recordings.
What is Freedom of Information Act for generally?
5 USC §552 et seq.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that generally provides that
any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain access to federal agency records
.
What type of documents are not allowed in the Freedom of Information Act?
Information/data that is NOT covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) includes:
Non-agency records and personal records
. Public requests for access to physical artifacts or scientific samples (e.g. core samples, sediment, rocks, fossils, specimen samples, blood samples).
How do I make a request under the Access to Information Act Canada?
- IRCC's Access to Information and Personal Information Request Form (IMM 5563);
- Treasury Board Secretariat's Access to Information Request Form (TBC/CTC 350-57); or.
- A letter indicating that the request is made in accordance with the Access to Information Act.
What are the three rights under the Privacy Act?
The Privacy Act provides protections to individuals in three primary ways. It provides individuals with:
the right to request their records, subject to Privacy Act exemptions; the right to request a change to their records that are not accurate, relevant, timely or complete
; and.
How do I access the Freedom of Information Act?
You must
put your request in writing to the agency or minister that holds the document you want
to access. Some agencies have an FOI request form on their website for you to complete and send to them. When you write to the agency or minister: state that you're requesting access to information under the FOI Act.
What is protected under Privacy Act?
The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended to present (5 U.S.C. … 552a),
Protects records about individuals retrieved by personal identifiers such as a name, social security number, or other identifying number or symbol
.
What can you ask for in a FOIA request?
A FOIA request can be made
for any agency record
. You can also specify the format in which you wish to receive the records (for example, printed or electronic form). The FOIA does not require agencies to create new records or to conduct research, analyze data, or answer questions when responding to requests.
What can you ask for in a Freedom of Information request?
You can ask for
any information you think a public authority may hold
. The right only covers recorded information which includes information held on computers, in emails and in printed or handwritten documents as well as images, video and audio recordings.
What information is exempt from freedom of information?
The section 23 exemption applies to any information you have received from, or relates to, any of a
list of named security bodies such
as the security service. You do not have to confirm or deny whether you hold the information, if doing so would reveal anything about that body or anything you have received from it.
Who is subject to a FOIA request?
The FOIA is codified at 5 U.S.C. Section 552.
“Any person”
can file a FOIA request, including U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, organizations, associations, and universities. In 1974, after the Watergate scandal, the Act was amended to force greater agency compliance.
Can a FOIA request be denied?
Can the FCC deny my FOIA request?
Yes
. If the Bureau or Office that is the custodian of the records determines that there are no records responsive to your request, or that one or more of the FOIA exemptions described above applies to the documents you request, your request will be denied in writing.
How much is a FOIA request?
The
FOIA
permits HHS to charge fees to
FOIA
requesters. For noncommercial requesters, HHS may charge only for the actual cost of searching for records and the cost of making copies. Search fees usually range from about $23 to $83 per hour, depending upon the salary levels of the personnel needed for the search.
