Category: Uncategorized

  • Charging Fees When No Records Are Found?

    Charging Fees When No Records Are Found?

    Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and its Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) both give institutions the right to charge fees for the work involved in responding to an Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Besides the $5.00 application fee (which is applicable to every disclosure request),…

  • Looking Forward

    Looking Forward

    I’m incredibly thankful for the time that many institutions have invested in learning about how the FOI Assist software can help their practice, whether through self-directed research, or by booking a demonstration of the software.

  • Why Charge an Application Fee for Each FOI Request?

    Why Charge an Application Fee for Each FOI Request?

    Last week, news organizations announced with dismay that British Columbia may impose an application fee of $25 for Freedom of Information requests filed in that province. Currently, in British Columbia, applicants can file an FOI request for free and pay no search charges unless the request is for public records (rather than personal information) and…

  • Should your institution accept FOI requests online?

    Should your institution accept FOI requests online?

    Today’s article is intended to dive into the complexities of accepting FOI requests online, and to help you evaluate whether accepting FOI requests online makes sense for your institution.

  • The “Law Enforcement” Exemption (FIPPA s.14 / MFIPPA s.8)

    The “Law Enforcement” Exemption (FIPPA s.14 / MFIPPA s.8)

    An overview of the Law Enforcement disclosure exemption, including why you should know it, and some of its more interesting features, such as when it permits institutions to refuse to confirm or deny the existence of a record.

  • FOI Software: “Off The Shelf” or Custom Built?

    FOI Software: “Off The Shelf” or Custom Built?

    You shouldn’t try to create your own FOI software, or even spend valuable institutional time in customizing existing software, when there is already an off-the-shelf solution available.