Recent Articles
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Video: Introduction to Records Management
I highly recommend this engaging, 7-minute Introduction to Records Management video created by Lina Fontana, Records Coordinator & Privacy Officer at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. This is a great introduction to records management for any organization, and especially for provincial and municipal institutions here in Ontario.
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Announcing the release of the FOI Assist software
I am very pleased to announce the FOI Assist software is now available for purchase on an annual subscription basis.
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Are Your Written Notices Defective?
Issuing compliant written notices can be deceptively complicated, given the multiple sources of rules and guidance that come into play. Unfortunately, as seen above, issuing a notice which fails to meet the requirements can lead to an adverse decision against the institution in an appeal before IPCO.
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The Year Gone By, and the Year Ahead
What a year! With the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to send everyone my best wishes and give you all an update on how things are progressing here at FOI Assist. Obviously this has been an unusual year for everyone, and a difficult year for many. I was fortunate to be working from…
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“List Of Farms” FOI Requestor Identity Revealed
The identity of the person who requested a list of all Ontario farms from OMAFRA, and why the request was made.
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How To Keep Your FOI Files Organized
For readers who may be caught in the trap of constantly improvising new processes for keeping things in good order, and who may be somewhat anxious about the state of their FOI files — for those of you in this crowd, I think you will find this article invaluable.
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Federal Health Minister Criticized For Deriding Freedom of Information
Since March, federal government offices have been reopening, but the government’s ability to respond to FOI requests has apparently not kept apace.
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Are Correction Requests Subject To The 30-Day Deadline?
Provincial and municipal institutions in Ontario are permitted 30 days to respond to access requests. But does the same deadline apply to correction requests?
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The “Advice or Recommendations” Exemption (FIPPA s.13 / MFIPPA s.7)
An overview of the “Advice to Government” / “Advice or Recommendations” exemption under FIPPA / MFIPPA.
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Ontario Privacy Commissioner Patricia Kosseim breathes new life into the official IPCO Blog
In the span of a week, three excellent articles appeared on the official Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPCO) Blog.
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Patricia Kosseim assumes the role of Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner
Patricia Kosseim started her term as the new Privacy Commissioner of Ontario this week. See her statement of introduction here: Message from the Commissioner Patricia Kosseim. All the best to Patricia Kosseim in her new role. If you’d like to stay engaged with further updates and see pre-release previews and demos of the FOI Assist…
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Can an institution consult a sample of affected persons rather than notifying everyone?
[A]n unidentified individual has filed an FOI request with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) for the following information: “List of all Ontario businesses with a Farm Business Registration. If possible I would like their FBR number as well, but at the very least, I just need the names of the…
FOI Assist Knowledge Base 