Recent Articles
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Requests for Continuing Access
In Ontario, requestors can make requests for “continuing access” to records held by an institution.
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Transitory Records
Institutions regularly generate and receive a wide variety of records, but not every record is intended for long-term retention. Records that serve only temporary purposes and hold no ongoing institutional or public value are referred to as transitory records.
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New IPCO Guidelines for the Law Enforcement Exemption
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPCO) has released a new interpretation bulletin providing key guidance and case citations for institutions applying the Law Enforcement exemption under Ontario’s access to information legislation.
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When are Personal Phone Records Subject to FOI?
For the past two years, a significant case has been unfolding in Ontario’s Freedom of Information (FOI) system, highlighting the delicate balance between expectations of privacy on our personal devices and the public’s demand for access to government records. In late 2022, Global News submitted an FOI request seeking access to Premier Doug Ford’s personal…
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Growth, Change, and Gratitude
As the year draws to a close, we look back on a transformative 2024. For the Freedom of Information community, it was a year of significant legislative updates, technological advances, and moments of collaboration that exemplified the core principles of transparency and public service.
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Bill 194 Receives Royal Assent
Ontario’s Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024 (“Bill 194”) passed third reading and received royal assent on November 25, 2024. It will come into effect on a date to be announced by the provincial government.
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Avoiding Fee Estimate Pitfalls: Lessons from IPCO Order MO-4569
A recent decision of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario provides a cautionary tale about the importance of crafting fee estimate letters with precision and compliance in mind.
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Career Opportunity at the Ministry of the Attorney General
The Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario has an opening for a permanent full-time Junior Program Analyst in its Justice Sector Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office.
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Privacy Breach Letter Template for Public Institutions
Today’s article presents a letter template that Ontario public sector organizations can use when notifying individuals affected by a privacy breach.
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FOIPN Presentation: Privacy Breaches and Best Practices
I had the privilege last week of presenting at the Freedom of Information Police Network (FOIPN) Fall Conference at Horseshoe Resort. It was a pleasure to meet and re-connect with many of the members of the FOIPN! For those who were unable to attend or would like a deeper dive, I’m happy to share the slides from…
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The Privacy Breach Management Toolkit
The Government of Canada’s Privacy Breach Management Toolkit is intended to support the management and prevention of privacy breaches. Although its guidance is directed primarily at institutions who fall under Canada’s federal privacy legislation, it can be adapted to meet the needs of other types of institutions, and it is well-suited for adoption by provincial…
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Changes to IPCO’s Appeal Process
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario recently introduced changes to the appeal process that will be of interest to all institutions who process FOI requests.
FOI Assist Knowledge Base 