Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Nova Scotia)
Encyclopedia
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, commonly known as FOIPOP, is the public sector privacy law
and access to information law for the Province of Nova Scotia
.
FOIPOP is generally considered to be in two parts: the first dealing with access to records in the custody or control of public bodies and the second dealing with the regulation of the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by those public bodies.
FOIPOP applies to provincially-regulated public bodies in the province of Nova Scotia. "Public body" is defined in section 3(1)(j) of the Act, and generally means provincial government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, some crown corporations, public universities, school boards, and hospitals. It also specifically includes those organizations listed in the Schedule to the Act.
FOIPOP is administered by the Review Officer appointed under section 33 of the Act. The Review Officers serves as an ombudsman
, reviewing complaints brought by individuals seeking access to records held by public bodies. The Review Officer does not have specific order-making powers and the powers of that office are limited with respect to privacy complaints. Complaints can be taken to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia after having been dealt with by the Review Officer.
Privacy law
Privacy law refers to the laws which deal with the regulation of personal information about individuals which can be collected by governments and other public as well as private organizations and its storage and use....
and access to information law for the Province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
FOIPOP is generally considered to be in two parts: the first dealing with access to records in the custody or control of public bodies and the second dealing with the regulation of the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by those public bodies.
FOIPOP applies to provincially-regulated public bodies in the province of Nova Scotia. "Public body" is defined in section 3(1)(j) of the Act, and generally means provincial government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, some crown corporations, public universities, school boards, and hospitals. It also specifically includes those organizations listed in the Schedule to the Act.
FOIPOP is administered by the Review Officer appointed under section 33 of the Act. The Review Officers serves as an ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
, reviewing complaints brought by individuals seeking access to records held by public bodies. The Review Officer does not have specific order-making powers and the powers of that office are limited with respect to privacy complaints. Complaints can be taken to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia after having been dealt with by the Review Officer.
External links
- Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- FOIPOP Review Officer
- Canadian Privacy Law Blog: A regularly updated blog on issues related to privacy law and FOIPOP written by David T.S. Fraser, a Nova Scotia privacy lawyer.