Topic Listing

Agreements

• Guide for Developing Personal Information Sharing Agreements

Considers issues related to the sharing of personal information by public bodies. Provides guidelines for drafting personal information sharing agreements.

• FOIP Discussion Paper: Assessment Roll

Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information contained in an assessment roll.

• FOIP Bulletin No. 17: Consent and Authentication

Explains the provisions for consent and authentication in section 6 of the FOIP Regulation and provides guidance with respect to the policies or "rules" that public bodies must establish in order to accept consent electronically or orally.

• FOIP Bulletin No. 9: Burden of Proof

  Explains which party has the burden of proof in an inquiry before the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
  

Business Contact Information

• FOIP Bulletin No. 13: Business Contact Information

  Offers guidance on the disclosure of business contact information under section 40(1)(bb.1) of the Act, reviews a public body's obligations under Part 2 of the Act with respect to the collection, use, accuracy, protection, and retention of business contact information, and includes a discussion of access to business contact information under Part 1 of the Act.

Census Planning (municipal)

• FOIP Tips for Planning a Municipal Census

  Offers tips for collecting, using, disclosing, protecting, retaining and disposing of personal information when planning a municipal census.

Common or Integrated Programs and Services

• FOIP Bulletin No. 8: Common Programs and Services

  Explains the FOIP Act's provisions for disclosure of personal information for the purpose of delivering a joint program or shared service. Suggests measures for protecting privacy when planning these initiatives.

Consent

• FOIP Bulletin No. 17: Consent and Authentication

  Explains the provisions for consent and authentication in section 6 of the FOIP Regulation and provides guidance with respect to the policies or "rules" that public bodies must establish in order to accept consent electronically or orally.

Contract Management

• Managing Contracts under the FOIP Act: A Guide for Government of Alberta Contract Managers and FOIP Coordinators (pdf)

  Provides guidance for contract managers within the Government of Alberta on access to information, protection of privacy and records management issues when preparing and administering contracts. Contracting issues covered in this Guide are likely similar in other sectors. A Word version is available so that public bodies can use or customize the model contract clauses and contract manager's checklist contained in the Guide.
  
  

• Contractor's Guide to the FOIP Act (brochure)

  Explains briefly how the FOIP Act affects companies and organizations that have contracts with government or local public bodies.

Counselling Services (schools)

• Guide to Providing Counselling Services in School Jurisdictions

  Provides guidance to counsellors employed by school boards on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, as well as the exercise of rights by parents and guardians. While the focus is on schools, the guide is also applicable to counselling services in other settings.

Deceased Persons

• FOIP Bulletin No. 16: Personal Information of Deceased Persons

  Provides an overview of the FOIP Act as it relates to the personal information of deceased individuals, reviewing the general and some specific provisions that apply to deceased individuals.

Disclosure of Personal Information

• FOIP Bulletin No. 4: Disclosure of Personal Information - Sections 17(2)(j)/17(3)

  Explains how these two provisions of the FOIP Act apply when responding to requests for personal information.
  
  

• FOIP Bulletin No. 10: Third Party Notice

  Explains who is a third party, when third party notice is required, how the notification and decision-making process works, and what practical things public bodies may need to consider in order to comply with sections 30 and 31 of the Act.
  
  

• FOIP Bulletin No. 15: Disclosure of Personal Information to Unions: Before a First Agreement

  Discusses the effect of a series of decisions made in 2002 by the Alberta Labour Relations Board on the issue of whether the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act is a barrier to disclosing employee personal information to a bargaining agent.
  
  

• Using and Disclosing Personal Information in School Jurisdictions

  Discusses how school boards may collect, use and disclose student and parent information as part of the student registration process. Sample forms are included.

Elected and Appointed Officials

• FOIP Bulletin No. 19: Ministerial Expense Claims

  Provides guidance on applying the exceptions to the right of access when releasing travel expense claim records in response to a FOIP request.
  
  

• FOIP Bulletin No. 6: Records of Elected and Appointed Officials of Local Public Bodies

  Explains how the FOIP Act applies to a personal record of an elected or appointed official of a local public body.
  
  

• The FOIP Act: Presentation for Elected Officials.

  Designed to provide elected council members with an overview of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, how the Act affects municipal operations, and the potential impact on council members. The presentation is intended to be delivered by FOIP Coordinators/Contacts and may be used as a refresher for returning council members or as an orientation for new council members. Speaking notes (in Rich Text Format) are also provided and can be downloaded and customized as needed. Content in italics is intended to be modified to reflect the FOIP experience of your municipality.

Elections

• Frequently Asked Questions about Elections (provincial and municipal)

• FOIP Bulletin No. 12: E-mail: Access and Privacy Considerations

  Highlights the access and privacy protection issues raised by e-mail. Does not address other management issues relating to e-mail, such as records management, e-mail monitoring or the development of a general policy on the use of e-mail.

• Frequently Asked Questions from Employees

• FOIP Bulletin No. 1: Fee Estimates

  Provides an overview of the fee structure, and explains when a fee estimate is required, what services a public body can charge for, how to prepare a fee estimate, the effect of the estimate on time lines, and processes for deposits and payment of fees. The Bulletin reflects the amendments to fee provisions in the FOIP Regulation enacted on February 8, 2006, which came into force on April 1, 2006.
  
  

• FOIP Bulletin No. 2: Fee Waivers

  Discusses the rationale for fees and fee waivers, the way the Act and Regulation apply to the processing of a request that may involve a fee waiver, and matters to be considered when deciding whether to grant a request for a fee waiver.

• FOIP Bulletin No. 5: Fund-Raising

  Provides an overview on how the FOIP Act applies to the indirect collection of personal information by a local public body for fund-raising activities. Also discusses how a post-secondary institution can use and disclose personal information in alumni records.

General

• FOIP: A Guide

  Provides an overview of the FOIP Act and Regulation for the public and staff of public bodies.
  
  

• FOIP Guidelines and Practices, 2005 Edition

  Provides a comprehensive source of reference on the application of the FOIP legislation by public bodies in Alberta. Interprets the Act and Regulation with reference to rulings by the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Also sets out roles and responsibilities and offers guidance on approaches and procedures that are intended to assist in the effective administration of the Act. Also available for purchase from the Alberta Queen's Printer.
  
  

• The Right to Information and the Right to Privacy (Brochure)

  Briefly explains for the public the purposes of the FOIP Act and provides general instructions on how to make a request for information.

Housing Management Bodies

• Frequently Asked Questions for Housing Management Bodies

• Human Resources Guide for Local Public Bodies

  Provides guidance for human resources staff in local public bodies on identifying information that can be routinely released upon request. Also outlines considerations when disclosing information under section 40 of the FOIP Act, and when responding to a request made under the FOIP Act.

Information-Sharing Agreements

• Guide for Developing Personal Information Sharing Agreements

  Considers issues related to the sharing of personal information by public bodies. Provides guidelines for drafting personal information sharing agreements.

Law Enforcement

• FOIP Bulletin No. 7: Law Enforcement
  

  Provides an overview of the way the Act applies to law enforcement including the definition of "law enforcement" and the Commissioner's interpretation of the definition; the mandatory and discretionary exceptions to disclosure of personal information or other information in a law enforcement record in response to an access request under Part 1; the collection, use and disclosure of law enforcement information under Part 2, and practical tips on the creation and management of law enforcement records.

Legislation

• FOIP Bulletin No. 14: FOIP Amendment Act, 2003
  Provides a comprehensive list of the amendments to the FOIP Act and offers some guidance on interpreting the new and amended provisions. Also includes a brief account of several amendments to other Acts that appear as consequential amendments in the FOIP Amendment Act, 2003.
   
• FOIP Bulletin No. 18: FOIP Amendment Act, 2006
  Explains the rationale for the new and amended provisions and offers guidance on applying the amended provisions within public bodies.

Libraries

• Frequently Asked Questions for Libraries

• FOIP Bulletin No. 3: Manuals and Reading Rooms

  Considers the obligations of a public body to make policy manuals available for consultation by members of the public.

Metis Settlements

• Frequently Asked Questions for Metis Settlements

• FOIP Discussion Paper: Assessment Roll

  Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information contained in an assessment roll.
  
  

• The FOIP Act: Presentation for Elected Officials.

  Designed to provide elected council members with an overview of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, how the Act affects municipal operations, and the potential impact on council members. The presentation is intended to be delivered by FOIP Coordinators/Contacts and may be used as a refresher for returning council members or as an orientation for new council members. Speaking notes (in Rich Text Format) are also provided and can be downloaded and customized as needed. Content in italics is intended to be modified to reflect the FOIP experience of your municipality.

• FOIP Tips for Planning a Municipal Census

  Offers tips for collecting, using, disclosing, protecting, retaining and disposing of personal information when planning a municipal census.

• Frequently Asked Questions for Municipalities

• FOIP Bulletin No. 11: Paramountcy

  Explains the concept of paramountcy, the circumstances in which another Act may need to prevail over the FOIP Act, how a FOIP Coordinator should approach a request under the FOIP Act when paramountcy may be involved, and the process for legislative planners to follow when their public body is considering proposing a new paramountcy.

Personal Information Banks

• Guide to Identifying Personal Information Banks

  Describes how public bodies can identify personal information banks as required by the FOIP Act.

Post-Secondary Institutions

• Frequently Asked Questions for Post-Secondary Institutions

• Private Sector Privacy: What FOIP Coordinators Need to Know.

  This presentation was delivered at the Access and Privacy 2003 conference in Edmonton, Alberta on June 12, 2003. It reviews Bill 44, the Personal Information Protection Act, in some detail.

Schools

• Guide to Providing Counselling Services in School Jurisdictions

  Provides guidance to counsellors employed by school boards on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, as well as the exercise of rights by parents and guardians. While the focus is on schools, the guide is also applicable to counselling services in other settings.
  
  

• Using and Disclosing Personal Information in School Jurisdictions

  Discusses how school boards may collect, use and disclose student and parent information as part of the student registration process. Sample forms are included.
  
  

• FOIP Discussion Paper: School Promotional Video Production

  Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information collected for and included in a school promotional video.
  
  

• FOIP Discussion Paper: Video Yearbooks

  Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information collected for and included in video yearbooks.
  
  

• Frequently Asked Questions for School Jurisdictions

• Guide to Using Surveillance Cameras in Public Areas

  Designed to assist public bodes in deciding whether collection of personal information by means of a surveillance camera is both lawful and justifiable.

Surveys

• Conducting Surveys: A Guide to Privacy Protection

  Provides advice to help public body staff ensure that surveys conducted by the public body comply with the privacy requirements of the FOIP Act.

Third Party Notice

• FOIP Bulletin No. 10: Third Party Notice

  Explains who is a third party, when third party notice is required, how the notification and decision-making process works, and what practical things public bodies may need to consider in order to comply with sections 30 and 31 of the Act.

Unions

• FOIP Bulletin No. 15: Disclosure of Personal Information to Unions: Before a first Agreement

  Discuss the effect of a series of decisions made in 2002 by the Alberta Labour Relations Board on the issue of whether the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act is a barrier to disclosing employee personal information to a bargaining agent.

Using Personal Information

• Using and Disclosing Personal Information in School Jurisdictions

  Discusses how school boards may collect, use and disclose student and parent information as part of the student registration process. Sample forms are included.

Videos

• FOIP Discussion Paper: School Promotional Video Production

  Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information collected for and included in a school promotional video.
  
  

• FOIP Discussion Paper: Video Yearbooks

  Highlights how the FOIP Act may apply to personal information collected for and included in video yearbooks.

Video Surveillance

• Guide to Using Surveillance Cameras in Public Areas

  Designed to assist public bodes in deciding whether collection of personal information by means of a surveillance camera is both lawful and justifiable.

Web Site Privacy Statements

• Guide to Developing Privacy Statements for Government of Alberta Web Sites

  Designed to help managers develop and use privacy statements on their Government of Alberta web sites and ensure that their sites comply with the privacy requirements of the FOIP Act.