Veterans Affairs Canada

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Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)

• Introduction
• What is the Access to Information Act?
• What is the Privacy Act?
• Principles for Assisting Applicants/Requesters (Duty to Assist)
  • Principles for assisting applicants
  • Principles for assisting requesters

Introduction

The mandate of the ATIP Coordinator’s Office at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is to administer the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, and to ensure VAC is in compliance with legislative and policy requirements. Key activities include:

• Processing requests under both Acts;
• Providing advice to anyone seeking information under VAC’s control;
• Promoting awareness of both Acts;
• Preparing annual reports to Parliament;
• Monitoring departmental compliance with both Acts;

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act came into effect in July 1983. Both Acts provide a right of access to information held by federal government institutions. However, exemptions or exclusions related to these Acts may be applied to some information contained within the records which prevents its disclosure.

What is the Access to Information Act?

laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/A-1

The Access to Information Act gives all Canadian Citizens, permanent residents and corporate entities present in Canada the right to apply for and obtain copies of federal government records. "Record" means any documentary material, regardless of medium or form.

Records about the policies, programs, general operations of the federal government, and personal information about individuals deceased for more than twenty years may be accessed under the Access to Information Act.

The Access to Information Act does not apply to information that is already available publicly, such as publications or material in libraries and museums. Cabinet documents are also excluded for a period of 20 years.

What is the Privacy Act?

laws.justice.gc.ca/en/P-21/index.html

The Privacy Act protects the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information held by a government institution. It also provides individuals the right to access their own personal information and to request correction of their personal information.

Personal client information collected by VAC which is required to deliver a wide range of programs and benefits may be accessed under the Privacy Act. This may include biographical, financial, medical, and similar types of personal information.

Principles for Assisting Applicants/Requesters (Duty to Assist)

Principles for assisting applicants

In processing your access request under the Access to Information Act, we will:

1. Process your request without regard to your identity.
2. Offer reasonable assistance throughout the request process.
3. Provide information on the Access to Information Act, including information on the processing of your request and your right to complain to the Information Commissioner of Canada.
4. Inform you as appropriate and without undue delay when your request needs to be clarified.
5. Make every reasonable effort to locate and retrieve the requested records under the control of the government institution.
6. Apply limited and specific exemptions to the requested records.
7. Provide accurate and complete responses.
8. Provide timely access to the requested information.
9. Provide records in the format and official language requested, as appropriate.
10. Provide an appropriate location within the government institution to examine the requested information.

Directive on the Administration of the Access to Information Act

Principles for assisting requesters

In processing your privacy request or correction request under
the Privacy Act, we will:

1. Process your request without regard to your identity.
2. Offer reasonable assistance throughout the request process.
3. Provide information on the Privacy Act, including information on the processing of your request and your right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
4. Inform you as appropriate and without undue delay when your request needs to be clarified.
5. Make every reasonable effort to locate and retrieve the requested personal information under the control of the government institution.
6. Apply limited and specific exemptions to the requested personal information.
7. Provide accurate and complete responses.
8. Provide timely access to the requested personal information.
9. Provide personal information in the format and official language requested, as appropriate.
10. Provide an appropriate location within the government institution to examine the requested personal information.

Directive on Privacy Requests and Correction of Personal Information

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Date Modified:

2012-02-29