The Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the FOIP Act) aims to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and an individual’s right to privacy, as these rights relate to information held by the Town of Cochrane (the Town).
The Act allows a right of access to any person to the records in the custody and control of the Town, subject to limited and specific exceptions. It controls the manner in which the Town collects and uses the personal information gathered from individuals. The Act allows individuals the right to access personal information about themselves held by the Town and allows for the right to request corrections to that information. There is also provision for independent review of decisions made by the Town under the legislation.
The Act is meant to complement existing practices for the release of information. Public bodies routinely release readily available information, so FOIP is not always required.
In 2023, the Town of Cochrane began to post Freedom of Information responses (except where the Town must protect personal or Third Party information).
Need to submit a FOIP request?
We encourage you to contact the FOIP Office at FOIP@cochrane.ca or 403-932-2674 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 or fee
- 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:
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 counsel 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.