Access to Information and Privacy

Canada maintains comprehensive legal regimes that govern both obtaining access to information in the possession of government as well as the protection of individual privacy rights.

We assist clients dealing with freedom of information laws at the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. We have experience in handling both requests for disclosure as well as resisting disclosure of third party information. We regularly deal with the federal Information Commissioner's Office and provincial counterparts and represent clients in administrative and judicial proceedings under the Access to Information Act and provincial and municipal equivalents. We provide advice to both private sector and public sector clients.

Compliance with laws regulating the collection and use of personal information has become a significant concern for both private and public sector organizations. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act extends federal privacy law obligations to private sector.

Our lawyers advise clients on compliance matters involving the application of privacy and data protection legislation, and responses to privacy-related complaints. We also assist clients in dealings with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and its provincial counterparts.