The Access to Information and Privacy Programs

The Access to Information Act gives Canadian citizens and persons present in Canada the right to access information in federal government records. The Privacy Act provides citizens with the right to access personal information held by the government and the protection of that information against unauthorized use and disclosure.

The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Directorate, part of the Executive Secretariat in the Corporate Services, Human Resources and Communications Branch, administers the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts and associated regulations, policies and procedures for the Department.

• The PWGSC ATIP Directorate consistently places among the top ten federal institutions receiving the most access to information requests. In the last fiscal year we received, 831 access requests.
• We administer the ATIP programs within PWGSC, both through the coordination of activities of the Directorate's staff and the network of approximately 37 ATIP Liaison Officers located in all Branches and Special Operating Agencies of the department.
• We develop Departmental policies and procedures for the ATIP program. We also review all PWGSC policies and procedures to ensure their consistency with the ATIP legislation so that Canadians and individuals living in Canada can exercise their rights to access information held by the Department.
• We provide advisory services to all levels of management and to our external clients, which include the general public, on all issues relating to the ATIP programs.
• We monitor the progress of proposed legislative amendments to both Acts and advise Departmental officials on issues relating to the potential impact of legislative change.
• We monitor and advise on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information held by PWGSC. We assist managers in determining if these activities require a Privacy Impact Assessment and, if so, provide advisory services throughout the process. We ensure that these activities are registered in the appropriate information bank in the Treasury Board publication InfoSource. We also advise managers on the collection of personal information through such means as surveys and forms.
• We provide ATIP information sessions and training to Departmental officials and other clients, as required.