Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Phone: (705) 360-2613
Fax: (705) 360-2674
Email: [email protected]

Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

What is the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)?

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act applies to all local government organizations, including municipalities, school boards, public utilities, transit and police commissions, fire departments, conservation authorities, boards of health and other local boards. There are separate Acts that apply specifically to Provincial Ministries, agencies and Federal Government institutions.

MFIPPA came into effect January 1, 1991 and required municipal institutions to protect the privacy of an individual’s personal information existing in government records. The Act creates a privacy protection scheme, which the government must follow to protect an individual’s right to privacy. The scheme includes rules regarding the collection, use, disclosure and disposal of personal information in the custody and control of a municipal institution.

The Act also gave individuals the right to access municipal government information, including most general records and records containing their own personal information, subject to very specific and limited exemptions. As well, the Act provides individuals with the right to request a correction of their personal information, which they believe to be false or inaccurate and/or to attach a statement of disagreement to their records. An individual is also provided with the opportunity to request an independent review from the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario of the decisions made under MFIPPA by the head of an institution.

Each municipal organization is required to appoint a head, who is responsible for overseeing the administration of the legislation within the institution and for decisions made under the legislation. At the City of Timmins, the City Council has delegated the powers and duties of the head to the Mayor, who in turn delegated these responsibilities to the City Clerk.

The legislation also stipulates that an institution must provide the requester with the information and/or decision regarding their request within 30 calendar days from the date a complete request is received. On occasion, an institution may ask for an extension, if the request is for an extensive number of records and/or if an outside consultant needs to be contacted.

In keeping with the spirit of the legislation, the City of Timmins is committed to providing individuals with the right of access to information in its custody and control including most operational records as well as records containing their own personal information, where applicable. This process is called business as usual- and allows certain records to be disclosed, without having to make a formal request under the Act. Only under limited circumstances does the City require an individual to make a formal MFIPPA request.

View/Download the Municipal Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) - Access/Correction Form

Information and Privacy Commissioner
2 Bloor Street East
Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 1A8

Toll Free: 1-800-387-0073
Web site: www.ipc.on.ca