Access to information and privacy

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act came into effect in July 1983. Both of these acts concern information held by federal government institutions.

Access to Information Act

The Access to Information Act gives the right to every Canadian citizen, permanent resident and individual, or corporation in Canada to access records in any format held under the control of a government institution (subject to specific and limited exceptions).

The Privacy Act

The Privacy Act protects the privacy of all Canadian citizens and permanent residents regarding personal information held by a government institution.It also gives these individuals, including those in Canada who are not permanent residents or citizens, the right to access their own personal information, and it governs the collection, retention, use, protection and disclosure of personal information.

Contact us for ATIP-related questions and general inquiries.