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.

When is labour and employment information exempt from disclosure?

In Ontario, both the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) contain special provisions regarding labour and employment information which often have the effect of giving institutions the option (or in some cases, an obligation) to refuse to disclose such information to requestors.

Verifying the Identity of the Requestor

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Manual (the “FOI Manual”) notes that when a requestor asks an institution for the requestor’s own personal information, the institution must first verify the identity of the requestor before any personal information is disclosed.  The FOI Manual suggests that an institution may be able to fulfill theContinue reading “Verifying the Identity of the Requestor”