Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)

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 Public Safety 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.

How to make a Written Access to Information Request

To make an Access to Information request for information held by Public Safety Canada, you may complete the Access to Information Request Form or send a letter to the ATIP Office mentioning the Act and describing the information you are seeking.

For requests for information held by other government institutions, including portfolio agencies, please refer to the list of departmental Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators.

An application fee of $5 applies and additional costs may be charged. You may send the application fee in the form of cash, a cheque or a money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

This application fee entitles you to five hours of search and preparation time for the requested records. You will be notified in advance if there are additional costs and you may be asked to make a deposit.

If you need advice on the process for completing an Access to Information request, please feel free to contact the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

Please send your request and application fee to the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

How to Make a Written Personal Information Request

To access your own personal information held by Public Safety Canada, you may complete the Personal Information Request Form or send a letter to the ATIP Office mentioning the Act and describing the information you are seeking.

For requests for information held by other government institutions, including portfolio agencies, please refer to the list of departmental Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators.

There is no charge for information requested under the Privacy Act.

Note that requests for personal information that does not concern you, must be accompanied by written consent indicating the name of the person giving his or her consent and to whom consent is being given. The consent document must be dated and signed by the person giving the consent.

If you need advice on how to complete a Privacy request, please feel free to contact the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

Please send your personal information request and any consent to release to the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

Submitting a request online to Public Safety Canada

The Access to Information and Privacy Online Request Service offers a convenient way to make:

This service:

Principles for assisting applicants

In processing your request under the Access to Information Act or 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 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.
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