Access To Information

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (The Act) is a provincial statute that applies to all provincial and local authorities.  The Act promotes the openness and transparency of provincial and municipal governments and the protection of an individual's privacy.  The Act enables people to apply for access to records held by the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman and sets out rules on how the Municipality collects, uses, and shares personal information.

The Municipality is a municipal government authority and strives to operate in an open and transparent manner providing individuals with access to records in the possession or control of the Municipality with limited and specific exceptions.

ROUTINE REQUESTS

If you are seeking information, the information can usually be provided routinely.  To find out if the information you want is routinely available, contact the Municipal Office.  If the information you seek is not routinely available, you will be directed to the Chief Administrative Officer to make a formal access to information request under The Act, utilizing an Access to Information Request Application Form.

Most of the information held by the Municipality can be accessed through the normal release of information by staff, without using The Act.  Examples of this include answers to questions related to departmental services, bylaws, policies, services, and open Council meeting agendas, agenda submissions, and minutes.

FORMAL REQUEST

A formal request for recorded information is a formal process to access records that are not routinely available.  The formal request must be made in writing through an Access to Information Request Application Form.  The request should provide sufficient detail to assist staff in locating/retrieving the requested records.

There is no fee for making an access to information application under The Act or for the first two hours spent by the Municipality to search for and prepare information for you.  Requests that are broad in nature can take longer to process and may result in the issuing of a fee estimate as prescribed by The Act.  If you are issued a fee estimate, you will need to sign and pay it before gaining access to the records requested.

For additional information visit the Manitoba Ombudsman website.