FOIPPA Policy & Procedures Manual
NOTE: The manual is currently being updated to reflect the 2021 FOIPPA Amendments and other developments in privacy and information management. To provide feedback, please contact IM.ITPolicy@gov.bc.ca.
The Ministry of Citizens’ Services developed this manual to increase understanding of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and its regulations in government and B.C. public bodies.
The manual is a reference tool that provides an overview of the Act’s general requirements, specific provisions, and application examples.
Search FOIPPA Policy & Procedures Manual
Latest updates
- Section 36.1 - Data-linking programs (updated 2023-02-10)
- Section 36.2 - Privacy management programs (updated 2023-02-10)
- Section 36.3 - Privacy breach notifications (updated 2023-02-10)
- Section 6 - Duty to assist applicants (updated 2023-01-24
- Section 10 - Extending the time limit for responding (updated 2023-01-24)
- Section 4 - Information rights (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 5 - How to make a request (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 8 - Contents of response (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 9 - How access will be given (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 37 - Appointment of the Commissioner (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 38 - Resignation, Removal or Suspension of Commissioner (updated 2022-10-19)
- Section 23 - Notifying the third party (updated 2022-06-15)
- Section 7 - Time limit for responding (updated 2022-06-08)
- Section 20 - Information that will be published or released within 60 days (updated 2022-06-08)
- Section 43 - Power to authorize a public body to disregard a request (updated 2022-05-27)
- Section 71.1 - Minister may establish categories of records available without request (updated 2022-05-20)
- Section 16 - Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations or negotiations (updated 2022-05-20)
- Section 18.1 - Disclosure harmful to the interest of an Indigenous people (updated 2022-05-05)
- Section 24 - Time limit and notice of decision (updated 2022-05-05)
- Section 33 - Disclosure of personal information (updated 2022-05-05)
- Section 70 - Certain records available without request (updated 2022-05-05)
- Section 71 - Head of public body must establish categories of records available without request (updated 2022-05-05)
- Section 33.1 - Disclosure outside of Canada (updated 2022-03-25)
- Section 36.2 - Privacy management programs (updated 2022-03-18)
- Section 36.3 - Privacy breach notifications (updated 2022-03-18)
- PART 1 - INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
- PART 2 - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
- PART 3 - PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
- PART 4 - OFFICE AND POWERS OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY COMMISSIONER
- PART 5 - REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS
- PART 6 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
- SCHEDULES
- FOIPP REGULATION
Click here for Policy Definitions
Introduction to this Manual
PART 1 - INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
SECTION
1. Definitions
PART 2 - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Division 1 - Information Rights and How to Exercise Them
SECTION
4. Information rights (Updated)
5. How to make a request (Updated)
6. Duty to assist applicants (Updated)
7. Time limit for responding (Updated)
8. Contents of response (Updated)
9. How access will be given (Updated)
10. Extending the time limit for responding (Updated)
Division 2 - Exceptions
SECTION
12. Cabinet and local public body confidences
13. Policy advice or recommendations
14. Legal advice
15. Disclosure harmful to law enforcement
16. Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations or negotiations (Updated)
17. Disclosure harmful to the financial or economic interests of a public body
18. Disclosure harmful to the conservation of heritage sites, etc.
18.1 Disclosure harmful to the interest of an Indigenous people (Updated)
19. Disclosure harmful to individual or public safety
20. Information that will be published or released within 60 days (Updated)
21. Disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party
22. Disclosure harmful to personal privacy
22.1 Disclosure of information relating to abortion services
Division 3 - Notice to Third Parties
SECTION
23. Notifying the third party (Updated)
24. Time limit and notice of decision (Updated)
Division 4 - Public Interest Paramount
SECTION
25. Information must be disclosed if in the public interest
PART 3 - PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
Division 1 - Collection, Protection and Retention of Personal Information by Public Bodies
SECTION
26. Purpose for which personal information may be collected
27. How personal information is to be collected
27.1 When personal information is not collected
28. Accuracy of personal information
29. Right to request correction of personal information
30. Protection of personal information
30.1 Storage and access must be in Canada
30.2 Obligation to report foreign demand for disclosure
30.3 Whistle-blower protection
30.4 Unauthorized disclosure prohibited
30.5 Notification of unauthorized disclosure
31. Retention of personal information
31.1 Application to employees and others
Division 2 - Use and Disclosure of Personal Information by Public Bodies
SECTION
32. Use of personal information
33. Disclosure of personal information (Updated)
33.1 Disclosure outside of Canada (Updated)
33.2 Disclosure inside Canada only
34. Definition of consistent purposes
35. Disclosure for research or statistical purposes
36. Disclosure for archival or historical purposes
36.1 Data-linking programs (Updated)
36.2 Privacy management programs (Updated)
36.3 Privacy breach notifications (Updated)
PART 4 - OFFICE AND POWERS OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY COMMISSIONER
SECTION
37. Appointment of commissioner (Updated)
38. Resignation, removal or suspension of commissioner (Updated)
40. Salary, expenses and benefits of commissioner
42. General powers of commissioner
43. Power to authorize a public body to disregard a request (Updated)
44. Powers of commissioner in conducting investigations, audits or inquiries
44.1 Maintenance of order at hearing
44.2 Contempt proceeding for uncooperative person
45. Statements made to the commissioner not admissible in evidence
46. Protection against libel or slander actions
47. Restrictions on disclosure of information by the commissioner and staff
48. Protection of commissioner and staff
49. Delegation by commissioner
51. Annual report of commissioner
PART 5 - REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS
Division 1 - Reviews by the Commissioner
SECTION
54. Notifying others of review
54.1 Order for severing of records
55. Mediation may be authorized
57. Burden of proof
59. Duty to comply with orders
59.01 Enforcement of orders of the commissioner
Division 2 - Investigations and Reviews by Adjudicator
SECTION
59.1 References to commissioner
60. Adjudicator to investigate complaints and review decisions
60.1 Disregard of request under section 5 or section 29
61. Powers, duties and protections of adjudicator
64. Notifying others of review
65. Conduct and outcome of the review
PART 6 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION
66. Delegation by the head of a public body
69. General information respecting use of personal information
69.1 Public information regarding health information banks
69.2 Provincial identity information services provider
70. Certain records available without request (Updated)
71. Head of public body must establish categories of records available without request (Updated)
71.1 Minister may establish categories of records available without request (Updated)
72. Public record index: (Repealed by FOIPPA Amendment, 2002)
73. Protection of public body from legal suit
73.1 Recovery of personal information
73.2 Court order for return of personal information
74. General offences and penalties
75. Fees
76. Power to make regulations
76.1 Ministerial regulation making power
78. Appropriation
79. Relationship of Act to other Acts
80. Review of Act
81. Right to disclose preserved
SCHEDULES
Schedule 3 - Governing Bodies of Professions or Occupations
FOIPP REGULATION
- Definitions
- Oral requests
- Who may act for a minor
- Who may act for an adult
- Who may act for a deceased individual
- Anthropological and heritage sites
- Disclosure relating to mental or physical health
- Disclosure for audit purposes
- Purposes for collection of personal information
- Consent respecting extending the time limit for responding to a request
- Consent respecting personal information
- Confirming a common or integrated program or activity
- Fees
- Form respecting notice of disclosure
- Social media sites
LETTERS AND FORMS