What's New

Statement issued today from 61 data protection authorities around the world The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta has joined other data protection authorities from around the globe today to publish a Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery. The statement represents the united position of 61 authorities. It has been issued in response to serious concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) systems that generate realistic images and videos depicting identifiable individuals without their knowledge and consent. The signatories are especially concerned about potential harms to children. The statement outlines key expectations and fundamental principles for all organisations developing… Read More...

This joint statement was issued on February 23, 2026, with a total of 61 signatories from around the world, including the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. Click here to read the statement. Read More...

The Applicant made an access request under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) to the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (the Organization) for records relating to her disability claim. The Organization responded to the Applicant’s requests by providing some information and withholding some information under various exceptions. The Applicant sought a review of the Organization’s response. The Applicant had also asked that the Organization destroy specific personal information of the Applicant, which the Applicant claimed was collected without authority. The Organization refused and the Applicant requested a review of this decision, characterizing the request to destroy the information as a… Read More...

On March 31, 2025, the Applicant made an access request to the Calgary Police Service (the Public Body), under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (The FOIP Act/Act). The request was acknowledged by the Public Body on August 7, 2025. On November 25, 2025, the Applicant requested a review of the Public Body’s failure to respond to the request. The Public Body conceded that it failed to comply with timelines under the FOIP Act. The Adjudicator found that the request was made under the FOIP Act and ordered the Public Body to respond to the request as… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request to Communications and Public Engagement (the Public Body) under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) for the following: […] copies of responses from the public (or summary data thereof) in response to questions 6 and 7 to the Alberta Next panel survey on an Alberta pension plan. Only include responses to questions where option 'E' reading 'Other/none of the above' was available for selection. Q6 = What potential benefit do you like most about Alberta opting to leave the CPP and create its own pension plan? Q7=Which risk of opting out of CPP to… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request to Communications and Public Engagement (the Public Body) under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) for the following: […] access to information request that read as follows: “I'm seeking copies of responses from the public (or summary data thereof) in response to questions 5 and 6 to the Alberta Next panel survey on a provincial police force.” The Public Body located responsive records but refused access to the records in their entirety under section 29(1)(g) of ATIA (advice from officials). The Adjudicator found that none of the information to which the Public Body had… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request to Executive Council (the Public Body) under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) for the following: […] copies of responses from the public (or summary data thereof) in response to question 6 to the Alberta Next panel survey on Immigration Timeframe: from June 24, 2025, to June 25, 2025 The Public Body located responsive records but refused access to the records in their entirety under section 29(1)(g) of ATIA (advice from officials). The Adjudicator found that none of the information to which the Public Body had applied section 29(1)(g) of ATIA met the terms… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request to Executive Council (the Public Body) under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) for the following: […] copies of responses from the public (or summary data thereof) in response to questions 5 and 7 to the Alberta Next panel survey on an Alberta pension plan The Public Body located responsive records but refused access to the records in their entirety under section 29(1)(g) of ATIA (advice from officials). The Adjudicator found that none of the information to which the Public Body had applied section 29(1)(g) of ATIA met the terms of this provision. She… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request to Executive Council (the Public Body) under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) for the following: I'm seeking responses from the public as captured by the form provided here: https://www.albertanextpanel.ca/contact Include as many responses as possible up to the limit where additional fees apply. Timeframe: from June 24, 2025, to June 25, 2025 The Public Body located responsive records but refused access to the records in their entirety under section 29(1)(g) of ATIA (advice from officials). The Adjudicator found that none of the information to which the Public Body had applied section 29(1)(g) of… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the FOIP Act) to the Calgary Police Service (the Public Body). The Public Body did not respond to the access request. The Adjudicator directed the Public Body to respond to the access request. Read More...

An Applicant made an access request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) for copies of the agenda, minutes and attachments of the AER Board’s meetings that took place between May 15, 2020, and October 9, 2020. Alberta Energy Regulator (the Public Body) provided responsive records with information withheld under sections 16(1), 17(1), 24(1), 24(2.1) and 27(1) of the FOIP Act. The Applicant requested an inquiry into the Public Body’s decision to withhold information in the records. The Adjudicator found that section 16(1) did not apply to the records and section 17(1) was not applied… Read More...

Assisted Living and Social Services (the Public Body) made decisions to extend the timelines for responding to the Applicant’s access request by a total of 100 business days under sections 16(1)(b), 16(1)(c) and 16(2) of the Access to Information Act (ATIA).  The Adjudicator found that the Public Body did not properly extend its timelines as required by ATIA. Read More...

Commissioner notes critical importance of privacy protection for children as part of marking Data Privacy Week The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta is marking international Data Privacy Week by highlighting its ongoing work to protect the privacy rights of children and youth. Data Privacy Week is celebrated around the world each year. In 2026, it takes place from January 26th through January 30th. “In an increasingly digital world, children’s personal information is collected, used, altered, and shared in ways and on a scale that requires heightened care, accountability, and oversight,” said Information and Privacy Commissioner… Read More...

Overview Since taking office in August 2022, Commissioner Diane McLeod has been reviewing the practices of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) when it comes to returning/destroying records that parties provide to the Commissioner when she is performing her legislative functions. From this review, it has become apparent that there are varying interpretations of in what circumstances records must be returned/destroyed, and therefore various practices under which some records have not been returned from files dating as far back as 15+ years. Under section 56 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the… Read More...

The Complainant alleged that Ahmed Abuel Shouhoud (the Custodian), a pharmacist and also her supervisor at work, accessed her health information on Netcare in contravention of the Health Information Act (the HIA). The Complainant further alleged that the Custodian verbally disclosed her health information to a colleague (the Colleague) three times: once in her absence, verbally; once in her presence, verbally; and once when he turned a computer screen toward her in such a way that the Colleague was able to see her information displayed on the screen. Other issues that arose were whether the Custodian collected health information contrary… Read More...

The Workers’ Compensation Board (the Public Body) made a decision to extend the timelines for responding to the Applicant’s access request by 30 business days under section 16(1)(b) of the Access to Information Act (ATIA).  The Adjudicator confirmed that the extension of the time limit complied with ATIA. An issue arose during the inquiry as to the delegated authority for the decision maker to make the section 16 decision under ATIA.  The Adjudicator determined that the head of the Public Body had properly delegated authority to the decision maker under ATIA section 87. Read More...

An Applicant made an access request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) for copies of the agenda, minutes and attachments to Alberta Energy Regulator (the Public Body) on May 14, 2020. The Public Body provided responsive records with information withheld in reliance on sections 16(1), 17(1), 24(1) and 27(1) of the FOIP Act. The Applicant requested an inquiry into the Public Body’s decision to withhold information in the records. The Adjudicator found that section 16(1) did not apply to the records and section 17(1) was not applied correctly to some of the records. The… Read More...

The Applicant made an access request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the FOIP Act) to the Calgary Police Service (the Public Body). The Public Body did not respond to the access request and the Applicant requested review. The adjudicator ordered the Public Body to respond to the access request. Read More...

The Applicant made an access to information request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the FOIP Act) to the Calgary Police Service (the Public Body). After receiving no response from the Public Body within 30 days, the Applicant sought a review of whether the Public Body had met the timelines for responding to an access request specified in section 11 of the FOIP Act. The Adjudicator found that the Public Body failed to comply with the timelines in section 11(1). The Adjudicator ordered the Public Body to respond to the access request as required by the… Read More...

An Applicant made an access request to the Calgary Police Service (the Public Body) under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act), on October 16, 2024. By September 2025, the Public Body had not responded to the Applicant’s request and the Applicant requested a review of the Public Body’s failure to respond. The Adjudicator ordered the Public Body to respond to the Applicant’s access request as required by the Act. Read More...