Gillian Shaw is the Director of Adjudication at the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). She and her team of adjudicators hear and decide access to information appeals under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and its municipal counterpart, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Why access to information matters [:34]
• What kind of information do you have a right to ask for? [2:43]
• What organizations/institutions can you ask for records or information? [3:05]
• Do you need to give a reason to ask for access to records or information? What are some of the things people ask for? [4:00]
• How hard is it to file a freedom of information request? [5:03]
• Organizations have a duty under the law to respond to access requests and help people requesting information [5:30]
• What are the limits? What kinds of information can you not access through a freedom of information request? [6:25] 
• Exemptions under freedom of information laws [7:10]
• How can people submit an access to information request? [8:04]
• How much does it cost to submit an access request? [8:20] 
• Best practices for creating your access request [9:55]
• What can people do if they don’t get the information they ask for? [11:45]
• What are the steps in an appeal? [14:17]
• Mediation [15:17]
• Adjudication [16:38]
• Judicial reviews [19:40]
• Recent stats on the number of freedom of information requests filed in Ontario and how many are appealed [20:38]
• What are frivolous and vexatious requests? [23:35]

Resources:

• Directory of Institutions
• Directory of Records
• Access to Information Under Ontario’s Information and Privacy Acts 
  (IPC brochure)
• The Appeal Process and Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner 
  (IPC brochure)
• Accessing Personal and General Government Records (FAQs and forms)
• Frivolous and Vexatious Requests (guidance for organizations and individuals)
• Fees, Fee Estimates and Fee Waivers (guidance for organizations) 

Info Matters is a podcast about people, privacy, and access to information hosted by Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. We dive into conversations with people from all walks of life and hear stories about the access and privacy issues that matter most to them. 

If you enjoyed the podcast, leave us a rating or a review. 

Have an access to information or privacy topic you want to learn more about? Interested in being a guest on the show? Send us a tweet @IPCinfoprivacy or email us at [email protected]. 

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the IPC does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this podcast, and information from this podcast should not be used or reproduced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. None of the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast bind the IPC’s Tribunal that may be called upon to independently investigate and decide upon an individual complaint or appeal based on the specific facts and unique circumstances of a given case.