Freedom of Information
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) establishes a process for the public to gain access to Town records.
MFIPPA in Brief
In general, MFIPPA provides that the Town’s records should be made available to the public, with some exceptions; the right of access to information is not absolute. In some cases it is necessary to protect the confidentiality of records and the persons to whom the information applies.
An individual can access their own personal information and correct the information if it’s not accurate. MFIPPA provides The Town must respond to each request within 30 calendar days of receipt. However, requests for information that include another person or a third party/group, may require additional processing to ensure all parties are provided with notification and/or an opportunity for comment.
Informal Access to
Any individual wishing to access records held by the Town should first contact the appropriate department to determine whether the information is available informally without the necessity of a formal request under the Act.
Formal Records and Information Requests
A formal request for information is made by completing the attached form below and returning it to Town Hall with the $5.00 application fee. Fees may be paid by cash, debit or cheque. The application form should have as much information and detail as possible to process the request efficiently and expeditiously.
Fee Details for General Information Requests
The following fees shall be charged for the purposes of subsection 45(1) of the Act for general information requests:
Application Fee: $5.00
Search Time: $7.50 per 15 minutes required to search and retrieve files/records
Record Preparation: $7.50 per 15 minutes required to prepare records for release (severing/review)
Photocopying: $0.20 per page
Computer Programming: $15 for each 15 minutes spend to develop a program to retrieve information
Disks: $10 each
If the estimated fee is more than $25.00, the Town will inform the applicant. If the estimated fee is more than $100.00 the Town may ask the requester to provide a 50% deposit. The applicant may also ask for a fee waiver on the basis of financial hardship.
Fee Details for Personal Information Requests
Requests submitted by individuals wishing to access information about themselves are considered personal information requests. The following fees shall be charged for the purposes of subsection 45(1) of the Act for personal information requests:
Application Fee: $5.00
Photocopying: $0.20 per page
Computer Programming: $15 for each 15 minutes spend to develop a program to retrieve information
Disks: $10 each
Disagreement with Disclosure Decisions
Requestors may appeal the decisions made by the Town to the IPC. The IPC is an independent institution and has been appointed by the Provincial Legislature. You may contact them at:
Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
2 Bloor Street East
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
T 1-800-387-0073
www.ipc.on.ca
The IPC website is a great source of information relating to MFIPPA and its processes.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) - For MFIPPA Requests
The Town of Fort Erie is committed to providing accessible information and communications to all of our customers. The Town recognizes that people with disabilities often use methods other than standard print to access information. It is the policy of the Town of Fort Erie to provide any correspondence, invoices and other documents in an alternative format upon request.
For further information on any of the above, please contact the Records Management Assistant at 905-871-1600 ext 2214.
Please click here for the MFIPPA Request for Information form
Please click here for the Town of Fort Erie's Guide for Users and Requestors
(Decisions made by the Town on release and disclosure must be provided with an opportunity for review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC)).