Access to Information and Privacy

Health Canada has established an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Division to process formal requests made under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. Health Canada is committed to protecting information collected to administer its programs and adheres to the requirements of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

• The Access to Information Act governs access to information contained in federal government records. This means that Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons present in Canada, or corporations can, formally or informally, request records under the control of Health Canada.
• The Privacy Act governs the collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal information and gives all individuals in Canada access to information about themselves.

Overview

• Proactive disclosure of completed access to information requests
• Legislation and resources
• Privacy
• Privacy impact assessment summaries

The ATIP Division within the Planning, Integration and Management Services Directorate, Corporate Services Branch, is responsible for administering the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, as well as associated Treasury Board Policies and Directives for Health Canada.

The ATIP Division:

• Is accountable on behalf of the department for personal information under our control. The division ensures the right of eligible requestors to know what personal information is held within Health Canada and to have access to that information, subject to certain justifiable exemptions or exclusions.
• Offers advice to those who have an access or privacy problem, want to learn more about these issues, or just want to find out more about how access to information and privacy works at Health Canada.
• Reports to Parliament annually outlining the volume of access to information and privacy requests received, and how the department has responded to those requests.
• Responds to requests for records under the Access to Information Act and for personal information under the Privacy Act. The division works with requestors to ensure they understand how best to obtain records that are held by Health Canada and to help explain how the department implements the Acts.
• Strengthens access to information and privacy practices across the department by developing corporate policies, training and awareness programs to ensure compliance with legislation. The division also works with stakeholders on the protection of personal health information within the broader health sector and on policy with the provincial and territorial governments.

While forms exist for the submission of access to information and privacy requests, using them is not essential. A detailed letter or email will suffice.

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

Related Resources

•  Privacy Request Form (Treasury Board)
•  Access to Information Request Form (Treasury Board)
• Contact us
• Info Source
• Reports and Publications