Freedom of Information and

Protection of Privacy Act Overview

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) sets out the rules respecting the collection, use and disclosure of general and personally identifying information held by public bodies.

Personal information includes any recorded information about an identifiable individual, except for health information. Examples of personal information include employee information and information held in Protective Services about individuals who are not patients. General information includes all non-personal information. All Covenant Health business, financial, planning or other administrative records would contain general information.

Right to Access Records

The FOIP Act provides any individual the right to access records held by a public body and is meant to ensure openness and transparency of government and other public bodies. A basic principle of the Act is that records be provided on request unless a specific exception of the Act allows the record to be withheld.

Protection of Privacy


The right of access is balanced by the requirement to protect individual privacy. The Act controls how personal information is collected, used and disclosed. It prevents another person from seeing your personal information without your consent.

General Rules

§  Safeguard the personal information you hold

§  Provide access to general information whenever possible

Collection and Use of Personal Information

§  Collect only information that relates directly to and is necessary for your operating program or department

§  Collect directly from the individual whenever possible

§  Use personal information without consent only for the purpose that it was collected or for a use consistent with that purpose

§  Use information only as required to perform your duties

Disclosure of Personal Information

§  You can disclose personal information about an individual directly to the individual themselves

§  Disclose personal information to others only with the consent of the individual or if the FOIP Act specifically allows for disclosure without consent

FOIP Requests

All written requests citing the FOIP Act must be forwarded as soon as they are received to the Privacy Office by fax 780-735-2774 or email .

For more information about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, visit the Alberta Government website at http://www.servicealberta.ca/foip/

If you have specific questions about FOIP, talk to your supervisor or contact the Privacy office at 780-735-9189 or .