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FOIPPA Policy & Procedures Manual

Last updated on February 25, 2025

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.

 Click here for Policy Definitions

Introduction to this Manual

PART 1 - INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

SECTION

1. Definitions 

2. Purposes of this Act

3. Scope of this Act

PART 2 - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Division 1 - Information Rights and How to Exercise Them

SECTION

4. Information rights

5. How to make a request

6. Duty to assist applicants

7. Time limit for responding

8. Contents of response

9. How access will be given

10. Extending the time limit for responding

11. Transferring a request

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

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

19. Disclosure harmful to individual or public safety

20. Information that will be published or released within 60 days

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

24. Time limit and notice of decision

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30.1 Repealed

30.2 Repealed

30.3 Whistle-blower protection

30.4 Repealed

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

33.1 Disclosure outside of Canada

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

36.2 Privacy management programs

36.3 Privacy breach notifications

PART 4 - OFFICE AND POWERS OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY COMMISSIONER

SECTION

37. Appointment of commissioner

38. Resignation, removal or suspension of commissioner

39. Acting commissioner

40. Salary, expenses and benefits of commissioner

41. Staff of commissioner

42. General powers of commissioner

43. Power to authorize a public body to disregard a request

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

50. Role of Ombudsman

51. Annual report of commissioner

PART 5 - REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS

Division 1 - Reviews by the Commissioner

SECTION

52. Right to ask for a review

53. How to ask for a review

54. Notifying others of review

54.1 Order for severing of records

55. Mediation may be authorized

56. Inquiry by commissioner

57. Burden of proof

58. Commissioner's orders

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

62. Right to ask for a review

63. How to ask for a review

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

67. Consultative committee

68. Annual report of minister

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

71. Head of public body must establish categories of records available without request

71.1 Minister may establish categories of records available without request

72. Repealed

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

77. Power to make bylaws

78. Appropriation

79. Relationship of Act to other Acts

80. Review of Act

81. Right to disclose preserved

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 - Definitions

Schedule 2 - Public Bodies

Schedule 3 - Governing Bodies of Professions or Occupations

FOIPP REGULATION

  1. Definitions
  2. Oral requests
  3. Who may act for a minor
  4. Who may act for an adult
  5. Who may act for a deceased individual
  6. Anthropological and heritage sites
  7. Disclosure relating to mental or physical health
  8. Disclosure for audit purposes
  9. Purposes for collection of personal information
  10. Consent respecting extending the time limit for responding to a request
  11. Consent respecting personal information
  12. Confirming a common or integrated program or activity
  13. Fees
  14. Form respecting notice of disclosure
  15. Social media sites

LETTERS AND FORMS

 

 

The information in this manual is not intended to be and should not take the place of legal advice.  

This manual does not bind or fetter the BC Government in interpreting or applying FOIPPA. FOIPPA’s provisions are authoritative and prevail in all cases.

Ministries:​​ 

For questions about FOI requests or proactive disclosures, please contact your ministry’s FOI coordinator.

For questions about protection of privacy, please contact your Ministry Privacy Officer or the Privacy and Access Helpline:

Email: Privacy.Helpline@gov.bc.ca

Non-ministry public bodies: ​

For questions about FOI requests, proactive disclosures or the protection of privacy, please contact your organization's FOI coordinator or the Privacy and Access Helpline:

Email: Privacy.Helpline@gov.bc.ca