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Podcast: Info Matters
Episode:

Demystifying the FOI Process
Category: Government & Organizations
Duration: 00:28:17
Publish Date: 2021-04-07 02:25:53
Description:

Gillian Shaw is the Director of Adjudication at the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). She and her team of adjudicators hear and decide access to information appeals under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and its municipal counterpart, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

Topics discussed in this episode: 

  • Why access to information matters [:34]
  • What kind of information do you have a right to ask for? [2:43]
  • What organizations/institutions can you ask for records or information? [3:05]
  • Do you need to give a reason to ask for access to records or information? What are some of the things people ask for? [4:00]
  • How hard is it to file a freedom of information request? [5:03]
  • Organizations have a duty under the law to respond to access requests and help people requesting information [5:30]
  • What are the limits? What kinds of information can you not access through a freedom of information request? [6:25] 
  • Exemptions under freedom of information laws [7:10]
  • How can people submit an access to information request? [8:04]
  • How much does it cost to submit an access request? [8:20] 
  • Best practices for creating your access request [9:55]
  • What can people do if they don’t get the information they ask for? [11:45]
  • What are the steps in an appeal? [14:17]
  • Mediation [15:17]
  • Adjudication [16:38]
  • Judicial reviews [19:40]
  • Recent stats on the number of freedom of information requests filed in Ontario and how many are appealed [20:38]
  • What are frivolous and vexatious requests? [23:35]

Resources:

Info Matters is a podcast about people, privacy, and access to information hosted by Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. We dive into conversations with people from all walks of life and hear stories about the access and privacy issues that matter most to them. 

If you enjoyed the podcast, leave us a rating or a review. 

Have an access to information or privacy topic you want to learn more about? Interested in being a guest on the show? Send us a tweet @IPCinfoprivacy or email us at podcast@ipc.on.ca. 

 
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