National > Access to Information:To what kinds of information do access to information laws apply?Each law must be checked to see how widely it applies and what kinds of information are included (defined). For example, the federal Privacy Act applies to personal information held by a government institution (which is defined as a government ministry or department listed in the Act). Personal information is defined to include information about an indentifiable person concerning matters such as race, education, criminal and employment record, fingerprints, and personal opinions. The Act also sets out the circumstances in which private information should be collected, how it should be collected and protected, and how a request for access to the information can be made. There are circumstances when a request can be refused, for example, when it might harm the conduct of international affairs. The law also provides for complaints to be made to the Office of the federal Privacy Commissioner. Each provincial act will have its own applications and definitions.
June 2006 |
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