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Access to Information Act (ATIA)

Access to Information

We are committed to supporting your right to access information held in our custody and control. We are required to ensure the protection of personal information in accordance with legislative requirements.

On June 11, 2025, the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and its accompanying regulations were officially proclaimed, marking a significant update to Alberta’s information and privacy legislation. With this proclamation, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) has been formally repealed. In its place, the new Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) modernizes and strengthens the privacy provisions that were previously established under FOIP.

The ATIA and the POPA incorporate both existing provisions that were in the FOIP Act, as well as new or revised provisions that focus on increased clarity, regulatory accountability, and administrative updates. These Acts grant individuals the right to access records held by Morinville while striking a balance between the need to protect privacy and sensitive information.

 

Principles of the ATIA

  1. Any person has a right of access to the records in the custody or under the control of a public body subject to specific and limited exceptions.
  2. Allows individuals a right to access personal information about themselves, subject to specific and limited exceptions.
  3. Provides for independent reviews of decisions made by public bodies and resolution of complaints under the ATIA.

 

Routine disclosure requests

Most information held by us is available on our website or by contacting the division or department directly responsible for the information you wish to request.

We will make every effort to process your request in a timely manner. If your routine disclosure request is denied, you may submit a formal Request to Access Information Form and submit it to records@morinville.ca or in person at St. Germain Place (Civic Hall), 10125 100 Avenue, Morinville, Alberta, T8R 1L6.

Determine the Type of Request

a.     Personal Access Request: For records that are not personal information of the applicant.

b.     General Access Request: For records containing personal information about yourself or an individual you are authorized to represent.

c.     Correction to Personal Information Request:  If an individual believes there is an error or omission in a record containing their personal information held by the municipality of Morinville.

 

 Request requirements

For an access to information request to be considered valid under the Act, it must meet all four requirements outlined in section 7(2):

• It must be in writing;

• It must be submitted to the appropriate public body;

• It must provide enough detail to enable the public body to locate and identify the record within a reasonable time and with reasonable effort.

• It must be accompanied by any required fee;

Access to Information Request Form

Section 7(2)(c) states that an applicant must provide enough detail to enable the public body to locate and identify the record within a reasonable time with reasonable effort.

Applicants may be unfamiliar with a public body’s administrative practices and records management processes such as how a public body implements decisions or policies, the kinds of records that the public body may create and how they are retained.

Section 7(3) indicates that if a request does not provide enough detail to enable a public body to locate or identify a record within a reasonable time with reasonable effort, the public body may request further information from the applicant that is necessary to process the request, and the applicant shall respond within 30 business days with the information being requested.

Section 7(2)(d) requires that any access to information request needs to be accompanied by a fee where a fee is required under this Act.

Section 13 of the Access to Information Regulation (ATIR) requires payment of a $25.00 initial fee when an applicant is requesting access to information that is not their own personal information; this is otherwise known as a general access request.

For more details on the charging of fees, see the Fact Sheet: Fees.

Identification is required to access and review your personal information.

We strive to keep personal information as accurate and up-to-date as is necessary for the purpose that it was collected. You have the right to request that any factual errors or omissions be corrected. Where appropriate, you may be asked for supporting documentation to back up your claim.

Complete and submit the Request to Correct Personal Information form to update your information.

Some town facilities have video surveillance cameras installed. When an incident occurs relating to criminal activity, contact Enforcement Services or RCMP who may then submit a request for video surveillance footage.

In the event of a safety concern, contact records@morinville.ca or call 780-939-4361 to determine if a request to view video surveillance footage is applicable.

Depending on the nature of the request for video surveillance footage, an Access to Information Request form may also be required.

How we collect and use your information

  • We strive to collect only personal information that is relevant and necessary for a particular purpose or to perform job duties.
  • We will make personal information available internally and externally only in appropriate circumstances or when consent is given and received in writing.
  • We ensure to maintain collected personal information in a secure manner.

 

Additional Information

Government of Alberta Records: Find more government records, data and publications through Alberta’s Open Government Program.

Records Available Without a Request: Some records may be available without submitting a formal request.

Third Party Notice: If the requested records involve third-party information, the public body will notify the third party and follow a specific process

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