Freedom of Information

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) establishes a process for the public to gain access to Town records.

MFIPPA in Brief

In general, MFIPPA provides that the Town's records should be made available to the public, with some exceptions; the right to access information is not absolute. In some cases, it is necessary to protect the confidentiality of records and the persons to whom the information applies.

Individuals can access their personal information and correct the data if it's inaccurate. MFIPPA provides The Town must respond to each request within 30 calendar days of receipt. However, requests for information that include another person or a third party/group may require additional processing to ensure all parties receive notification and an opportunity for comment.

Informal Access

Individuals looking to access records held by the Town should contact the appropriate Town department to determine if the information is available without requiring a formal request under the Act.

Formal Records and Information Requests

A formal request for information is made by completing the attached form below. Once complete, return it to Town Hall with the $5.00 application fee. Fees may be paid by cash, debit or cheque. To process the request efficiently and expeditiously, please provide as much information on your application form as possible.

Fee Details for General Information Requests

The following fees will are charged for subsection 45(1) of the Act for general information requests:

• Application Fee: $5.00
• Search Time: $7.50 per 15 minutes required to search and retrieve files/records
• Record Preparation: $7.50 per 15 minutes required to prepare records for release (severing/review)
• Photocopying: $0.20 per page
• Computer Programming: $15 for every 15 minutes spent developing a program to retrieve information
• Disks: $10 each

The Town will inform the applicant if the estimated fee is more than $25.00. If the estimated cost is more than $100.00, the Town may ask the requester to provide a 50% deposit. The applicant may also ask for a fee waiver based on financial hardship.

Fee Details for Personal Information Requests

Individuals requesting access to information about themselves are considered personal information requests. The following fees shall be charged for for the purposes of subsection 45(1) of the Act for personal information requests:

• Application Fee: $5.00
• Photocopying: $0.20 per page
• Computer Programming: $15 for every 15 minutes spent developing a program to retrieve information
• Disks: $10 each

Disagreement with Disclosure Decisions

Requestors may appeal the decisions made by the Town to the IPC. The IPC is an independent institution and has been appointed by the Provincial Legislature. You may contact them at:

Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario:
2 Bloor Street East
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Phone: 1-800-387-0073

https://www.ipc.on.ca

The IPC website is an excellent source of information relating to MFIPPA and its processes.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Manual

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) - For MFIPPA Requests

The Town of Fort Erie is committed to providing accessible information and communications to all our customers. The Town recognizes that people with disabilities often use methods other than standard print to access information. Therefore, it is the policy of the Town of Fort Erie to provide any correspondence, invoices and other documents in an alternative format upon request.

For further information on any of the above, don't hesitate to contact the Records Management Assistant at 905-871-1600 ext 2214.

MFIPPA Request for Information form

(Decisions made by the Town on releases and disclosure must be provided with an opportunity for review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC)).