Access to information laws serve an important function in a modern society. The ability to access information directly from public institutions fosters openness and accountability. It also results in a more informed and engaged citizenry. It is one of the cornerstones of democracy.
The ability to access one’s own personal or health information is connected to protecting or advancing individual rights. Individuals are able to access their own personal and health information that public bodies, private sector organizations and custodians hold about them subject to limited and specific exemptions.
There are three laws in Alberta that facilitate access to information. These laws apply to the public sector (such as government, police, municipalities), health sector (such as hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, dentists), and private sector organizations (such as retail stores, online stores and social media and other apps, and contractors).
Below is a description about how these laws function and how you can exercise your rights under these laws. There is also information about the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the work we do.
Public Sector Access Law (applies to public bodies)
Access to Information Act
The Access to Information Act (ATIA or Act) applies to public bodies in Alberta. Public bodies include government ministries or departments, government agencies, boards and commissions, school boards and charter schools, universities and colleges, municipalities, and police.
ATIA went into force in June of 2025. It replaced the access to information part of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act). The FOIP Act is no longer in force in Alberta and has been repealed.
Under the ATIA, you have the right to:
- Request access to any information contained in a record that is in the custody or control of a public body, including your personal information, subject to limited and specific exceptions set out in the law
- Ask the OIPC to review a public body’s decision to withhold information from you in response to your access to information request
- Ask the OIPC to review when a public body has not responded to your access request within timelines or if you dispute a time extension the public body has taken to respond to your request
- Ask the OIPC to review a decision to release your personal or business information in response to another access request
- Ask the OIPC to review fees the public body has charged, estimated, or refused to waive in connection with your access request
- Ask the OIPC to review when a public body has disregarded or declared your request abandoned
To make an access request, submit it in writing to the public body that you think has the information. Provide enough detail to help find the information. You can ask to look at or receive a copy of the records.
An initial fee of $25 may be required when requesting access to general information. Additional fees may be charged depending on the extent of the request. You must be provided with an estimate of fees and you must accept the fees before your request is processed.
A fee does not apply to requesting your personal information except for the cost of producing a copy of the record. The fees that can be charged are set out in a Schedule to the ATIA Regulation. Fees can be waived in some situations, and you may ask the OIPC to review a decision to charge a fee.
There is no fee associated with asking the OIPC to review a decision made by a public body.
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Health Sector Access Law (applies to custodians)
Health Information Act
The Health Information Act (HIA or Act) applies to “custodians”, such as the four government departments responsible for health services in Alberta, provincial health agencies (Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta), hospital services (Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre), pharmacies and pharmacists, physicians, optometrists, registered nurses, dentists, and their health service providers or employees.
Under HIA, you have the right to:
- Request access to your own health information from a health custodian
- Ask the OIPC to review a health custodian’s decision to withhold information from you in response to your request for health information
- Ask for a correction of your health information
- Ask the OIPC to review a health custodian’s response to your request to correct your health information
To make an access request, submit it in writing to the health custodian that you think has the information. Provide enough detail to help find the information. You can ask to look at or receive a copy of the records.
An initial fee of $25 may be required when requesting access to a record containing health information. Processing of a request will not start until the $25 fee is paid, if applicable. Additional fees may be charged depending on the extent of the request. You must be provided with an estimate of fees and you must accept the fees before your request is processed.
A fee does not apply to requesting your health information except for the cost of producing a copy of the record. The fees that can be charged are set out in a Schedule to the HIA Regulation. Fees can be waived or reduced in some situations. You may ask the OIPC to review a decision to charge a fee.
There is no fee associated with asking the OIPC to review a decision made by a public body.
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Private Sector Access Law (applies to private organization)
Personal Information Protection Act
The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) applies to private sector “organizations”, such as businesses, employees, partnerships, trade unions and professional regulatory bodies.
Under PIPA, you have the right to:
- Request access to your own personal information from an organization. The organization may refuse access to your personal information in certain circumstances prescribed by PIPA. Instead of requesting access, you can choose instead to request information about the use or disclosure of your personal information by the organization.
- Ask for a correction of your personal information
- Ask the OIPC to review a private sector organization’s response to your request for access or correction
To make an access request, submit it in writing to the private sector organization that you think has the information. Provide enough detail to help find the information.
You are not able to ask for general information about an organization, for example financial statements of a condominium corporation. You can only ask for information that is about you. You can also ask to look at or receive a copy of the records.
You may be charged a fee for processing your request. No fees can be charged if requesting your information as an employee. You must be provided with an estimate of fees and you must accept the fees before your request is processed.
You may ask the OIPC to review a decision to charge a fee or how an estimate was created.
There is no fee associated with asking the OIPC to review a decision made by a private sector organization.
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About the OIPC
The Information and Privacy Commissioner enforces how Alberta’s access to information laws are applied to ensure the purposes are achieved. The Commissioner reports to all members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and is independent from government ministers and departments
You may ask the OIPC to:
- Review a public, health or private sector organization’s decision that relates to your request to access information, including a failure to respond, a time extension, or in the case of ATIA, if the public body has disregarded or abandoned your request.
- Review a response to your request for correction
- Review a public body’s decision to release information about you in response to another access request (ATIA Act only)
To ask for a review of your request for access information or a correction request under HIA and PIPA, you must:
- Send your request to the OIPC in writing within the timelines set out in the laws
- Provide the OIPC with a copy of your request for access or correction and a copy of the response to your request.
For more information on submitting a request to review a response to an access to information request under ATIA, HIA or PIPA, click here.
For more information on submitting a request to review a correction request, click here.
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