Recent Articles
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A Quick Phishing Test from Google
Most FOI and privacy professionals are aware of phishing risks. We routinely advise staff to be cautious and we respond when something goes wrong. In turn, staff look to us for guidance on what to watch for. Setting that example means being able to recognize the warning signs ourselves — especially as phishing attempts become…
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As This Year Comes to a Close
At the end of each year, I like to pause and reflect on the year gone by, share a few thoughts on what’s ahead, and take the opportunity to say thank you to the community that makes this work so rewarding.
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Introducing the FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026)
FOI Assist is pleased to announce the launch of the FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026) — a free, practical Freedom of Information training program designed specifically for Ontario’s provincial and municipal institutions.
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FOI Assist Seminar Series (2026): Registration Link for Seminar #1
As an FOI Assist Knowledge Base subscriber, you are invited to register for the first seminar in the 2026 FOI Assist Seminar Series.
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New Ontario Privacy Impact Assessment Guideline
Today’s article summarizes the most important changes between the 2015 and 2025 versions of IPCO’s PIA guideline and explains how these changes may affect your institution’s privacy management practices.
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Personal Liability for FOI Mistakes
Given that the Acts assign responsibility for responding to FOI requests personally to the heads of institutions and their delegates, individuals involved in processing requests may reasonably wonder whether their actions — intentional or not — could result in personal civil liability. In other words, could a head or employee be sued for failing to…
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Data Sharing Agreements
A recently announced data-sharing MOU demonstrates IPCO’s compliance with its own guidance. By issuing this MOU, IPCO has put in place a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) of its own to facilitate information sharing with another government entity.
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Drafting Privacy Impact Assessments in 2025
Today’s article explains how to draft Privacy Impact Assessments “right now”, as of the second half of 2025, using the best currently available resources, while ensuring compliance with the new legislative requirements.
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IPCO Instructs Requestor to Resubmit FOI Request
Today’s article is a response to a question from an FOI Assist Knowledge Base reader in Ontario.
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Reasonable Search Affirmed
Although institutions are expected to make a genuine effort to locate all records responsive to a request, institutions are not required to prove with absolute certainty that no responsive records (or no additional responsive records) exist in response to an access request. Under both FIPPA and MFIPPA, it is sufficient for an institution to provide…
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FOIPN Presentation: Frivolous and Vexatious Requests
FOI Assist was proud to sponsor, exhibit and present at this year’s Freedom of Information Police Network (FOIPN) Conference, held earlier this week at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario. A copy of the slide deck from the Frivolous and Vexatious Requests presentation is available below.
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FOI Assist is at Science North!
FOI Assist is proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor at the 2025 Freedom of Information Police Network (FOIPN) Conference, taking place this week at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario.
FOI Assist Knowledge Base 