Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

The Access and Privacy Office (APO) is responsible for administering the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP). The APO accepts requests from individuals applying for access to information and correction of personal information held by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Once the APO receives your request for information, they work with the relevant public body (department, branch, office, agency, board, commission etc.) to get you the records you seek while protecting individuals' privacy.

The office also provides corporate leadership in access and privacy issues across the GNWT.

In this section:

• What is an ATIPP request?
• Make an ATIPP request
• Request a Review of your ATIPP request
• Forms
• Fees
• Access and Privacy Contacts
• ATIPP General Awareness Course
• Related Documents

What is an ATIPP request?

An Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) request allows residents to ask for copies of the records and information held by the GNWT.
The Access and Privacy Office (APO) accepts requests from residents applying for:

• access to information; and
• corrections to personal information.

Helpful info about ATIPP requests:

• There is no initial fee for making an ATIPP request.
• You must provide proof of your identity before records are released to you.
• If you are requesting records on behalf of someone else, you must provide proof that you have legal authority to act for the person (i.e. guardianship or trusteeship order, power of attorney).
• A clear and concise ATIPP request should take approximately 30 business days to complete; a broad and unspecific request may take longer.
• Some records are not covered by the ATIPP Act, and are exempt from ATIPP requests. This can include court records or records that are available for purchase by the public.
• The APO processes new ATIPP requests on behalf of all GNWT departments and the NWT Housing Corporation.

Make an ATIPP request

1. Fill out a form. An ATIPP request form must be made in writing.

2. It must be mailed, emailed, faxed or delivered to the appropriate public body. Please consult the Access and Privacy Contacts and submit directly to the contacts listed in the directory.

If you can’t find the public body you’re looking for or have questions about the Act, please contact:

Request a Review of your ATIPP request by the Information and Privacy Commissioner

You may request a review of your ATIPP request by the NWT's Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC). The IPC is an independe for any of the following reasons:

• the public body denied access to some or all of the records requested;
• the public body was unable to locate a record that you believe it has in its custody or control;
• you feel the public body is taking too long to respond to your request;
• you feel that the requested fee is too high;
• you have requested a correction to personal information and it has not been accepted;
• you are a third party and the public body is going to give access to information that affects your interests without your agreement; and/or
• you feel the public body's collection, use or disclosure of your personal information was inappropriate.

To request a review:

1.Fill out a Request for Review form with the following:

• the name of the public body whose decision is to be reviewed
• the nature of the original request
• the decision that is to be reviewed
• your name, address and telephone number
• copies of the original request and the public body’s decision letter, if possible

2.Send the form by email, fax, or mail to:

Forms

The following forms may be used to make an Access to Information Request to GNWT departments or other public bodies, request a review, or to request correction of personal information in the custody of a public body in the NWT:

• Access to Information Request Form
• Request for Review Form
• Request for Correction of Personal Information Form

Fees

There is no initial fee for making an ATIPP request from a public body. There is no application fee to request your own personal information, or your own personal health information.

A fee will be charged for very large requests for information where chargeable costs are more than $250.00, as prescribed in the Regulations. If fees are required for your request, you will be informed of the estimated cost, and you must advise the public body whether or not you want to proceed with the request within 30 days.

For more information about fees, contact the Access and Privacy Office or the Access and Privacy Coordinator/Contact listed in the Access and Privacy Contacts or refer to the current fee schedule in Schedule B of the ATIPP Regulations.

Access and Privacy Contacts

Each public body has an Access and Privacy Coordinator/Contact person which is listed in the Access and Privacy Contacts. That person’s role is to answer questions and help you identify the records you wish to see. They can be contacted in person, by email, mail or by telephone and can answer questions and arrange for access to a public body's records.

If you can’t find the department or public body you’re looking for, contact Information Access and Privacy Office.

ATIPP General Awareness Course

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy General Awareness Course is available online at no cost. The course takes 1 to 2 hours to complete.

Upon completion of the course, employees will have a better understanding of:

• The ATIPP Act
• The obligations of employees within government, along with simple steps we can all take to protect the records we handle

Related Documents

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Regulations
• Government of the Northwest Territories Protection of Privacy Policy
• Access and Privacy Guide
• Access and Privacy Contacts

Reports

• ATIPP Activity Report 2010-2016
• ATIPP Activity Report 2008-2015