Freedom of Information and Privacy
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) The FOIPP Act (Act), covers all provincial government public bodies, including government ministries and most government agencies, boards, commissions and Crown corporations. It also covers what is referred to as “local public bodies”, which includes municipalities and regional districts.
The Act has two main purposes:
- Freedom of information:
To make public bodies more open and accountable by providing the public with access to records; and - Protection of Privacy:
to protect personal privacy by preventing the unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies
The intent of this comprehensive legislation is to provide a way to access records in the custody or under the control of local governments within the Province of BC, as well as providing a means of addressing personal privacy issues involving local governments.
Requesting access to information
The Act's underlying principle is that ALL recorded information is available to the public, except information which is subject to those specific and limited exceptions to disclosure set out in the Act. The exceptions to disclosure are provided in Part 2 of the Act. A "record" by definition in the Act includes "books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers, papers, and any other thing on which information is recorded or stored by graphic, electronic, mechanical or other means, but does not include a computer program or any other mechanism that produces records". The general right of access to records is restricted by certain specified and limited exceptions. For example, an applicant will not get access to someone else's personal information without their permission, or information which would harm third party business interests.
There are two ways to request information from the District of Sechelt:
1. Informal/Routine Request
The information you want may already be publicly available. You can start by making an informal request by contacting the department you think might have the information you are looking for. Applicants should review the Document Types for Releasing to determine if a formal FOI Request for Access to Records is required.
2. Formal Request
If the record you are requesting is not listed, please submit a written formal request using the form linked below. Unlike informal requests, a formal request must be made in writing. The request should provide sufficient detail to assist staff in locating/retrieving the records. Forms can be submitted in person at Municipal Hall at 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St., Sechelt.
We will process your request as quickly as possible and within 30 business days as specified in the Freedom of Information/Protection of Privacy Legislation. However, if the record(s) you are requesting are large in volume, when additional time is needed to consult with third parties or other public bodies, and/or when we need to work with you to clarify your request, the District of Sechelt may require a time extension of an additional 30 days as specified in the FOIPPA.