ALBERTA GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TIMELINE FOR EXTENSION OF FOIPP TO LOCAL PUBLIC BODIES

from a Government of Alberta news release

Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) Act will apply to school jurisdictions and health care bodies in the fall of 1998. All other public bodies, including post-secondary institutions and local government, will have the legislation apply to them in 1999.

The Act provides for access to records held by public bodies, and includes strict standards that they must follow for the collection, use and disclosure of public and personal information. It is widely regarded as potentially providing a new dimension to the traditional role of the archivist and records manager.

Murray Smith, Minister Responsible for FOIPP, said, "The extension of the FOIPP Act to local public bodies is part of our continued commitment that the public sector should be open, accessible and accountable to the people of Alberta." He went on to say that the timeline for phasing in local public bodies was developed in consultation with the bodies themselves.

Following is the timeline for the extension of FOIPP to local public bodies:

September 1, 1998

School jurisdictions

October 1, 1998

Health care bodies

January 4, 1999

Post-secondary educational institutions

October 1, 1999

Local government bodies: municipalities; improvement districts; Special Areas; regional service commissions; management bodies, housing authorities and foundations under the Alberta Housing Act; drainage district boards, Metis Settlements, Metis Settlements General Council; irrigation boards, other boards and commissions (including police commissions and committees)