Are there any exceptions to my right to request government information?

Each access to information law should be checked for the specific details relavant to the law. For example, under the federal Privacy Act, when a request is made for access to a government record, the government institution is generally required to release it to the person who has made the request. There are a number of specific exceptions to this rule, however, that are designed to protect privacy and avoid the disclosure of sensitive information. These exemptions fall into the following general categories of information:

• Personal information: A great deal of sensitive personal information is collected by the government. In order to protect the privacy of individual Canadians, a government institution can refuse to disclose records that contain personal information about someone other than the person who made the request.
• Information obtained in confidence from another government (foreign, provincial, municipal, or regional).
• Information that might harm provincial-federal affairs.
• Information related to international affairs and defence.
• Information prepared by the RCMP for policing services.
• Information relating to criminal or law enforcement matters.
• Information about medical records where the information would be damaging to the requesting individual.
• Information covered by solicitor client privilege.
• Information contained in personal information banks which have been excepted by government order (a personal information bank is all personal information held by a prticular ministry or department).
• Information that might threaten the safety of individuals.
• Information related to those sentenced for an offence.
• Information relating to security clearances.

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WARNING: The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only.
If you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.