The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ('the Act') is Provincial legislation that ensures access to records and personal information, while also controlling how Cochrane collects and discloses information. The Act balances the public’s right to know with the individual’s right to privacy in regard to information held by the Town of Cochrane.
Under the Act, you have the right to request information that is in the custody and control of the Town, including your own personal information. You may also request a correction of your personal information if it is inexact, ambiguous, or incomplete.
The Act is meant to complement existing practices for the release of information. Public bodies routinely release a majority of their information, so FOIP is not always required.
Need to submit a FOIP request? We encourage you to contact the FOIP Office at FOIP@cochrane.ca before doing so. We may be able to assist you by:
- letting you know if the information you want is public information and can be accessed without a request
- helping you clarify your request before you file it, which may reduce the costs of your request and or the time to process it
To submit a FOIP request, submit an application:
Beginning in 2023, we post Freedom of Information responses (except where we must protect personal or third party information):
FOIP/PIPA Help Desk
The Government of Alberta’s FOIP/PIPA Help Desk provides general guidance with regards to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) or the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
The FOIP/PIPA Help Desk does not provide any of the following services:
- Legal advice or interpretation of the FOIP Act or PIPA, including providing advice on any actions that individuals or businesses should take regarding access and privacy concerns. Consult your legal council for advice or interpretation.
- General guidance, advice, or interpretation of the Health Information Act.
- Status updates for any existing FOIP or PIPA requests. Follow-up directly with the public body or private sector organization where you submitted your request.
- Investigations into privacy breaches. Refer to File a complaint or report a privacy breach for more information.
- Acceptance or processing of FOIP or PIPA access to information requests.
For Information and resources to answer many access and privacy questions in Alberta, please visit the FOIP website, the PIPA website, or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s website.
Connect with the FOIP/PIPA Help Desk for any further inquiries.