Requesting a Review or making a complaint
How to Make a Complaint
To make a complaint to the IPC, you must complete a Complaint form.
A complaint can be about a duty required by the ATIPP Act that has not been performed by either a public body or the records manager, or about any other concerns relating to the administration of the ATIPP Act. Examples of such concerns are:
- A search for records was not adequate, or no records were found in relation to your Request for Access to Records
- A records manager’s decision that an entity is not a public body
- Whether the public body or records manager made reasonable efforts to help you access or correct records
- Records containing your personal information have not been properly protected
- No response to a Request for Access to Records has been received
- The explanation for withholding information is insufficient
The IPC will decide what action to take on a complaint. Such actions can include inquiries, mediation or investigation. The IPC may also decide to handle one or more similar complaints together. She will decide what outcome will best resolve or settle a complaint. Where a complaint is investigated, the complainant will be informed of the result.
At this time, the IPC does not accept complaints via email. Please mail or hand-deliver your completed Complaint form to the Commissioner. You will find our address on our Contact Us page.
How to Request a Review
To request a review, you must complete a Request for Review form. Please attach relevant information, where possible, such as:
- A copy of your Request for Access to Records or Request for Correction of Personal Information
- A copy of the response or other correspondence or documents from the records manager or public body
You may ask the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) to review:
- a refusal by the public body to grant access to the record;
- a decision by the public body to separate or obliterate information from the record;
- a decision by the records manager to declare the request abandoned;
- a decision about an extension of time under section 12 responding to a request for access to a record;
- a decision by the records maanger to not waive a part or all of a fee imposed under this Act. S.Y. 2009, c.13,ss. 15(1) to (4);
- a complaint that a public body has not collected, used or disclosed your personal information correctly; and
- a public body's decision to disclose personal or business information about a third party.
The IPC has extensive powers to conduct reviews. She can require a record be produced for examination.
The IPC may assign a member of her staff to investigate or mediate in order to reach a settlement between you and the public body or records manager. If a resolution cannot be reached, you may ask that the matter proceed to Inquiry. The decision to conduct an Inquiry rests with the IPC.
At this time, the IPC does not accept requests for review via email. Please mail or hand-deliver your completed Request for Review form to the Commissioner. You will find our address in the contact us section of this website.