Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOI)
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the 'Act') provides specific rights regarding personal privacy and information that is created, collected or controlled by the City of Delta.
The principles of the Act are to provide a balance between access and protection:
- The public has the right to access government information.
- Individuals have the right to have their personal information protected.
It has always been a priority in Delta to be helpful in providing information and assistance to the public. Since the advent of the Act, however, we have had to apply its provisions, which means that while we give access to some information more readily, we must restrict access to documents containing personal information.
What does the Act cover?
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act covers all records on which information is recorded, i.e: correspondence, reports, forms, microfilm, drawings, and electronic media.
The important thing to remember is that the Act covers records and the information contained in those records. It is not the intention of the Act that staff compile and summarize research. Think of using the Act as a library card - it allows you access to a book (record), but you have to do the research work necessary for your purposes.
For further information on the Act, please refer to the website of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.