Freedom of Information and Privacy

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The Corporate Access and Privacy Office in the Office of the City Clerk is closed between Tuesday, December 24, 2024 and Friday, January 3, 2025. Emails and voicemail messages will be returned the week of January 6, 2025. Thank you.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act aims to strike a balance between the public's right to know and the individual's right to privacy concerning records held by the City.

Are you looking for information about the City of Edmonton? You may not require a FOIP request:

City programs and services
Concerns about City programs, services or bylaw enforcement can be directed to 311
News releases and media requests
Edmonton Maps
Property records requests
Open Data
City Archives
Council meetings online, agendas, reports and minutes - Council and Committee Meetings
For help finding agendas and minutes for past meetings, check the City Clerk FAQ which includes detailed instructions and contact information.

For more information, contact the Office of the City Clerk before you submit a request. Call 780-496-8171 or email informationservices@edmonton.ca.

How Do I Submit a FOIP Request?

Access to information is one of the pillars of democracy, and it is your right under the FOIP Act to request any information which is held by the City.

Submitting a Request

Requests for access to information, also known as FOIP requests, can be submitted online.

We also accept applications by mail. The Request to Access Information form may be completed and mailed to the Corporate Access and Privacy (CAP) Office, City of Edmonton, 16th floor Century Place, 9803 - 102A Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 3A3.

For more information on making FOIP requests, please contact the CAP Office at 780-496-5222 or foip@edmonton.ca.

What is a "General" request?

A "general" request is any request that is not a "personal" request. Examples of general requests include:

An agreement
A City report
Emails about a City program

What is a "Personal" request?

A "personal" request is a request for records that are about you. Examples of a personal request include:

Your employee file
Bylaw complaints that you have made or complaints about your property
Fire investigation reports about your property

What is a "Personal information request on behalf of someone else"?

This is a request for personal information about a person other than yourself, and that person has given you permission to make the request. When making this type of request, you must provide proof that you have permission. Use the Authorization of Representative form to document permission. When submitting your application online, you can upload the completed form. Insurance agents or lawyers often make this type of request on behalf of their clients.

Will I receive all the records that I asked for?

Information will only be withheld from you if an "exception to disclosure" applies to the information. In the FOIP Act, an exception to disclosure explains the harm that could occur if the information was released. There are 2 types of exceptions: "mandatory" and "discretionary". "Mandatory" means the City must apply the exception. "Discretionary" means that the City can choose to apply the exception. For example, the City must (mandatory) withhold information that would be an invasion of someone's privacy, but it may (discretionary) withhold information that is analysis or advice used to make a decision.

When information is withheld from you, you will be advised of the exception to disclosure that was applied.

What does it cost to submit a FOIP request?

There is no application fee for personal requests (including when you make a request on behalf of someone else and you have submitted the completed Authorization of Representative form).

You must pay a $25 application fee for a general request. Work will not start on your request until you have paid the fee.

If you don't know if your request is general or personal, please contact a FOIP Coordinator.

Will work start right away on my request?

Before work starts on your request, a FOIP Coordinator may contact you to discuss your request. This conversation will help the FOIP Coordinator understand what you are requesting. Work cannot begin on your request until the scope of your request is clear.

Will additional fees be charged?

Fees for processing "general" requests and "personal" requests are different.

Personal Requests

Fees for processing personal requests are charged only if the cost of producing the records (photocopying) is more than $10. If the cost is estimated to be more than $10, you will receive a fee estimate for the cost. Photocopies cost $0.06 a page so you will receive a fee assessment only if there are more than 167 pages - otherwise there is no charge.

General Requests

Fees for general requests are charged only if the cost of processing (search time, applying exceptions to disclosure, photocopying) is more than $150. If the cost is estimated to be more than $150 you will receive a fee estimate.

For both personal and general requests, you are required to pay a deposit of 50% of the estimated cost of processing your request before work on your request will begin.

What if I can't afford to pay the fee?

The Act provides some situations where fees can be reduced or waived entirely. A FOIP Coordinator can assist you in narrowing the scope of your request and provide other suggestions to reduce your costs. The Coordinator can also accept written requests with supporting documentation to be considered for a fee waiver.

How can I pay the $25 fee for a general request?

Payment can be made by cheque or credit card.

Credit Card

Online

Online or visit Freedom of Information and Privacy
(The system will prompt you to pay by credit card)

Telephone

Call the Office of the City Clerk at 780-496-8178
(Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm- excluding statutory holidays)

Cheques

Mail cheques to:

City of Edmonton
16th Floor, Century Place
9803 - 102A Avenue
Edmonton AB T5J 3A3
* Cheques must be made payable to the City of Edmonton

What if I think the information I'm requesting is in the public interest?

The Act states that the applicant may not need to pay fees for the release of records in the public interest. If you believe it is in the public interest to release the records you are requesting, please raise this with the Coordinator assigned to your file.

When will I get my information?

The FOIP Act provides the City with 30 calendar days to respond to your request. However, days spent clarifying the scope of your request or awaiting payment of fees will extend the 30 calendar day response time.

The City may take an additional 30 days if the scope of your request is large or if we need to consult with a third party about the records. Any other extensions of time must be approved by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

Is there an express service?

No. We process requests in the order that they are received, but we do our best to respond as quickly as possible.

Now that I've seen my records, I think there's incorrect information about me. How do I correct my personal information?

You may change your address and contact information for some City services by contacting 311. If you want to correct other information about yourself please contact a FOIP Coordinator.

Summary of the FOIP Act

You have the right to request access to City information.
You have the right to access your own information.
You have the right to request that the City correct your personal information.
The City must tell you why it is collecting your personal information.
The City must only collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes stated in the Act.
You have the right to complain about any issue related to FOIP including an access request you have made or a privacy breach. Complainants may be directed to request an independent review of any issue related to FOIP by the provincial Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

Edmonton's Open City Initiative strives to transform the City into a more transparent, open and accessible organization. Information about the City is widely available throughout this website and on the Open Data Portal.

Contact Us

Corporate Access and Privacy

Email	foip@edmonton.ca
Phone	780-496-5222