Letter 8-4: Response to Access Request – Refuse to Confirm or Deny

• this letter template provides an example of how to respond to an access request under FOIPPA when the public body refuses to confirm or deny the existence of records

File or Reference Number:

[Date]

[Applicant’s name and address]

Re: Request for Access to Records under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  

Dear [applicant’s name]:

I am writing in response to your request for access to records under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act). You requested copies of [description of requested records].

Pursuant to section 8 (2) of the Act, the [name of public body] does not confirm or deny the existence of records.

Your file is now closed.

If you have any other questions about the processing of your request, please write or call [name of employee] at [contact information].

Under section 52 of the Act, you may ask the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review the response to your request.  You have 30 days from receipt of this notice to request a review by writing to:

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
4^th Floor, 947 Fort Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 3K3
Email: info@oipc.bc.ca        Tel: (250) 387-5629   Fax: (250) 387-1696

If you wish to request a review, please provide the Commissioner’s office with:

1. A copy of the original request;
2. A copy of our response; and
3. The reasons or grounds upon which you are requesting the review.

Sincerely,

 

Director/Manager
Information and Privacy

[Enc.]