As a public body, the Town of Antigonish is subject to the Government of Nova Scotia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). The Municipal Government Act – which provides authority for the activities and operations of municipal government in Nova Scotia – also contains provisions relating to FOIPOP in Part XX. These pieces of legislation ensure that the Municipality is transparent and accountable to its citizens, while protecting individual privacy rights and personal information.
What information can be accessed, and what are my rights?
Everyone has a right of access to most recorded information held by the Town, but certain exemptions do apply. Foremost, citizens have the right of protection of the privacy of personal information in the custody or under the control of the Municipality (which includes such things as: your name, address, telephone number, age, sex, education, marital status, health-care history, and financial history). Additionally, legislation prohibits the FOIPOP Administrator from disclosing:
- information that could reasonably be expected to harm intermunicipal or intergovernmental relations or reveal information provided by other municipalities or governments in confidence, unless there is consent;
- information that could reasonably be expected to harm the financial and economic interests of the municipality or another municipality or the Province;
- information related to certain labour relations mediation or conciliation proceedings;
- information subject to solicitor-client privilege;
- someone else's personal information;
- information that could significantly harm a third parties business interests
- information that could harm law enforcement; and
- information that could harm the economic or financial interests of a public body, other individuals, or the public.
Citizens have a right of access to their own personal records under the control of the Municipality, including your own personal information and the right to update or correct this personal information.
How can I access information?
The Chief Administrative Officer is the FOIPOP Administrator for the Town of Antigonish. They has been appointed to administer Part XX of the Municipal Government Act, and can be contacted to assist with access to information requests.
If access is denied or you disagree with the response provided, you have the right to contact the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office (1-888-243-1564) to request a review of the Town's decision. You must request this review within 60 days of the Town's decisions. There is no charge for the review.
What is the process and how much will it cost?
If you would like to access information, all requests must:
- Be in writing; and
- Specify the subject matter of the record requested with sufficient particulars so that it can be identified. When making a request, please try to be as specific as possible about the information you are seeking to avoid delays in processing.
Depending upon the nature of the request, you may be asked to accompanied your letter with a $5.00 application fee (i.e. a cheque payable to the Town of Antigonish). Additional charges may also be levied. A $15 for each half hour of staff time (in excess of 2 hours), a photocopying charge of $0.20 per page, and shipping and transportation costs are all potential additional costs to accessing information. An estimate will be provided to the applicant who must either pay the charges in advance or make an application for the charges to be waived.
No Fees Will Be Charged For The Applicant's Own Personal Information.
What kind of response can I expect to receive?
There are three types of responses you might get from the Municipality once a decision has been made about giving you the records:
- Access in full: you are getting everything that you have asked for;
- Access in part: the Town will let you know that they are providing some of the information and will explain the reasons why; or
- Withheld in full: the Town will let you know that they are not providing any of the information and will explain the reasons why.
Responses are normally provided within 30 days of receipt of the request.
More Information
To make a request or to receive more information regarding the steps in the FOIPOP process, please contact our Administration Department for further information.
