FOI Assist Seminar Series: Time Extensions and Staged Access Plans Under Ontario’s New FOI Rules

The FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026) is underway — a free, practical Freedom of Information training program designed specifically for Ontario’s provincial and municipal institutions.

This seminar series is available exclusively to FOI Assist Knowledge Base subscribers.

Current subscribers have already received the registration link for Seminar #4 by email and can also access it via the subscriber-only Knowledge Base post.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you can still join. New subscribers will automatically receive the registration link for the upcoming seminar after subscribing to the FOI Assist Knowledge Base.

Subscribing to the Knowledge Base is free and gives you access to:

• The full FOI Assist Knowledge Base
• Ongoing FOI updates and practical guidance
• Registration links for the 2026 seminar series
• Future seminar announcements delivered directly to your inbox

To subscribe to the FOI Assist Knowledge Base, enter your email below and click Subscribe.

What to Expect in 2026

Throughout 2026, FOI Assist is hosting a series of live, online seminars exploring Ontario’s Freedom of Information legislative framework — including FIPPA, MFIPPA, IPCO guidance, and practical examples drawn from real-world FOI scenarios.

Each seminar focuses on practical tools and best practices to help FOI professionals strengthen their workflows and improve legislative compliance.

Participants earn credit toward the FOI Practitioner Certificate — FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026), awarded to Knowledge Base subscribers who complete five or more seminars during the 2026 calendar year. (A minimum of three more seminars are being offered in 2026, including the seminar below.)

Seminar #4: Time Extensions and Staged Access Plans Under Ontario’s New FOI Rules

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern (Toronto Time)
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live online seminar (Zoom)

As of July, Bill 97 introduces many changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information framework under FIPPA and MFIPPA. This seminar will examine Ontario’s updated FOI rules for time extensions and the newly created staged access plans.

The session will focus on the practical administration of larger FOI requests under the new framework, including:

• Second time extensions and the circumstances in which they may be available
• Plans for staged access to records
• The transition from calendar days to business days and the new 45 business day basic response timeline
• Managing large FOI requests under the new rules
• Practical strategies to reduce appeal risk

This session is primarily intended for municipal staff, employees of universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, police services, provincial agencies, boards and commissions, and FOI professionals at other Ontario public-sector institutions seeking to better understand how the new rules may affect the day-to-day administration of Freedom of Information requests.

Participants will also receive:

• A short post-session quiz
• An individualized Certificate of Completion for participants who attend and pass, or an individualized Certificate of Attendance
• Credit toward the FOI Practitioner Certificate — FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026), awarded to participants who complete five or more seminars during the year

This session will be recorded and may be made available to registrants, FOI Assist clients, or other viewers after the event.

How to Register

Registration is reserved for FOI Assist Knowledge Base subscribers.

• Current subscribers: Your registration link has already been emailed to you and is available in the subscriber-only Knowledge Base post.
• New subscribers: You will automatically receive the registration link for Seminar #4 when you subscribe.

To subscribe to the FOI Assist Knowledge Base, enter your email in the subscription box and click Subscribe.

If you know a colleague who would benefit from this seminar, please feel free to share this announcement. To help support the seminar series, you may also consider reposting it for others in your network.

If you are interested in learning more about how FOI Assist can support your institution’s Freedom of Information program — particularly in light of the upcoming legislative changes — you are also welcome to request a demonstration of the FOI Assist software.

I look forward to seeing you!

— Justin Petrillo
President & Founder
FOI Assist Corporation