How to Conduct an Effective Search for Records
So you have received an access to information request and you know it is not going to be easy to locate responsive records. What do you do? Here are some tips for you. First: You develop a search strategy and document everything. A search strategy could include: Searching for records in multiple formats (i.e. electronic,... read more
Contracting with Governments (updated)
Government, whether municipal or provincial, charge taxes and spend those taxes on services we need. By government I mean at all levels and includes school boards, universities, colleges and health regions. All of them enter into contracts with service providers. I generally believe that if you contract with an entity which uses tax dollars, your... read more
Who Signs for a Child? (updated)
When it comes to obtaining the personal information of a child under the age of 18 years, it is commonly accepted that a child cannot sign for themselves. So, who can sign for that child? The Children’s Law Act, 2020 sections 3 and 4 provides: The parents of a child are joint legal decision-makers with... read more
The Search for Personal Health Information (updated)
When a patient (applicant) makes an access to information request for their personal health information, the search for responsive records may not be as easy as just checking out the health records department. The Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) applies to all personal health information in the custody or control of a trustee regardless of... read more