Welcome to the FOI Assist™ Knowledge Base, where I publish practical tips, guidance, and commentary for institutions responsible for receiving and responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
The FOI Assist Knowledge Base is intended for the same audience as the FOI Assist software: employees of public-sector institutions responsible for administering the FOI process. These include municipalities, police services, universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, health units, conservation authorities, as well as provincial ministries, agencies, boards and commissions subject to FIPPA or MFIPPA.
Members of the public may find the Knowledge Base useful as well, both as an “inside look” at how FOI requests are processed, and as guidance on how to prepare and pursue FOI requests more effectively.
About Me
My name is Justin Petrillo. I created the FOI Assist software to help Ontario’s provincial and municipal government institutions of all sizes track and respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
I am a lawyer with over fifteen years of experience advising on commercial, intellectual property, and FOI/privacy matters.
From 2013 to 2015, I managed the Freedom of Information program at the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee while serving as Legal Counsel to the Games.
Before becoming a lawyer, I worked as a software developer at well-known technology companies including NVIDIA and Microsoft.
FOI Assist Knowledge Base 