Access and Privacy

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Access and Privacy

IMPORTANT NOTICE: In response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Vaughan will not be accepting FOI requests in-person at City Hall until further notice. We advise for all requests to be sent via email to: accessandprivacy@vaughan.ca

Access and Privacy staff in the City Clerk’s Department work toward openness and the protection of personal privacy. We handle requests for information from the public, give advice to City staff on access and privacy topics, and act as the City’s contact with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

Frequently asked questions

What is Freedom of Information?

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA, the Act) is a Provincial law that directs the City on access and privacy issues.

The Act has two goals:
1. to provide a right of access to information under the control of the City, subject to certain exemptions, and
2. to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by the City, including a right of access to that information.

Freedom of information (FOI) or access to information are both terms that are used to describe requesting information from the City of Vaughan under MFIPPA.

How do I request information?

To access records held by the City, check with the department that holds the information.

If the department is not able to provide the information, file a formal FOI request under MFIPPA.

To file a formal request under MFIPPA, submit an Access Request Form (PDF) in writing and include the mandatory $5 application fee.

The request must contain your personal contact information and a description of the information you are seeking. Please provide as much information as possible to allow for ease of search.

If the request is unclear, you will be contacted by staff in the Access and Privacy division for clarification.

If the request is for your own personal information and you have an agent acting on your behalf, you will need to provide a written authorization for your agent.

What will it cost?

In addition to the payment of the $5 application fee, there may be fees charged for time spent searching and preparing records for disclosure as well as costs for photocopies.

Search and preparation time is charged at $7.50 for every 15 minutes. No search and preparation fees are charged for requests for personal information. Photocopies are billed at $0.20 a page.

If the fee to complete the request is estimated to be more than $25, a fee estimate will be issued. If the estimated fee is more than $100, a 50 per cent deposit may have to be deposited prior to the City undertaking a full search for the records.

How long will it take?

Except in extenuating circumstances, under the MFIPPA mandate you will receive a decision within 30 days.

In requests where the City needs to seek advice from an individual outside of the City regarding the release of information or if the request is for a large number of records, the time limit may be extended. You will be advised if this extension is required and you will have the opportunity to ask the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) to review the extension.

Will I get everything I ask for?

MFIPPA outlines certain information that is exempt from disclosure.

The types of records that may be exempt are:

advice or recommendations of an officer, employee or consultant of the City
information that is currently or will be available to the public within 90 days
records relating to law enforcement records
records subject to solicitor/client privilege
third-party commercial or financial information
any personal information of third parties

There are very few exemptions that apply if you are requesting your own personal information.

What if I do not agree with the City's decision?

If you disagree with the City's decision to your formal request, you have the option to appeal the decision to the IPC. Information on how to contact the IPC and the process for filing an appeal will be contained in your decision letter.

The IPC can be reached at:

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

2 Bloor St. E., Suite 1400

Toronto, ON

M4W 1A8

416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073

What is personal information?

Personal information is defined in the MFIPPA as "recorded information about an identifiable individual" and includes your home address, email address, telephone number, age, ethnic origin, education as well as medical or financial history.

How is personal information collected and used?

Any time you are asked to provide your personal information (i.e., fill out a form) you are entitled to be told:

the reason the information is being collected
the title and contact information of a staff member of the City who can answer any questions you may have about the collection of the information
what the information will be used for

The City maintains an online personal information bank which lists all personal information held by the City and provides details on where the information is held and what it is used for.

Who has access to my personal information?

City staff will collect, use and disclose personal information, if necessary, for City services. If staff need access to your personal information to do their duties, they will be permitted access to it.

Some personal information is collected by the City and is required to be available to the public. This may include information being available at City Hall or on the City's website. If you have concerns regarding any of your personal information being on the City's website, please review our Public Record Redaction Procedure and Application (PDF).

What if I believe my personal information has been shared without my consent?

The City of Vaughan takes its responsibility for the privacy protection of personal information very seriously.

If you have a concern about the collection or use of personal information, please contact a senior staff person in the appropriate department to discuss this matter.

If you are not satisfied with the City's efforts to resolve the concern, contact the IPC at the address below:

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

2 Bloor St. E., Suite 1400

Toronto, ON

M4W 1A8

416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073

Where can I get more information?

For questions about access and privacy at the City of Vaughan please email us: accessandprivacy@vaughan.ca

We do not recommend you send personal information via email. Please contact us directly if you want to talk to us about an access or privacy issue.

Kristin Smith

Access and Privacy Officer

905-832-2281, ext. 8987

Contact Information

Office of the City Clerk -
Access and Privacy

Phone: 905-832-2281 ext. 8987

Email: accessandprivacy@vaughan.ca

Location:
Vaughan City Hall, Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON L6A 1T1