Freedom of information

The Regional District is dedicated to upholding privacy rights and maintaining public trust by handling information requests in accordance with the Province of BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). See our Information Management | Bylaw No. 1507 for details. 

Types of requests

FOI requests and associated fees:

• Informal - Contact us by calling or emailing the department that should have the information.
  • The department that has the information may charge a fee to cover its costs in processing your request.
• Formal - Must be made in writing with sufficient details for staff to locate and retrieve records.
  • FIPPA outlines fees.
  • There is $10 application fee for FOI requests, which must be paid before processing a request.
  • Additional fees may occur to cover the cost of processing your request, after the first three hours of staff time. We will send you a fee estimate before processing your request. A deposit may be required. To reduce fees and minimize taxpayer expense, please narrow the scope of your request as much as possible.
  • Fees do not apply if you are requesting your own personal information.

Property information requests

Property information requests (building permit history and zoning information for a property) must be made through an online submission to building permits and inspections.

FAQs

What information can be requested?

FIPPA applies to all records under the custody or control of a public body. FIPPA does not require staff compile or summarize records to answer specific questions. Applicants are expected to conduct their own research with the records they receive.

The Act defines records as:

“Books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers, paper and any other thing on which information is recorded or stored by graphic, electronic, mechanical or other means, but does not include a computer program or any other mechanism that produces records.”

How to make a request?

Always start by making an informal request. To do this, contact us by calling or emailing the department that should have the information you are looking for.

Formal FOI requests must be made in writing. If the information you are seeking is not available through an informal request, take these steps for a formal FOI.

1. Review our Information Management | Bylaw No. 1507.
2. You may use our FOI application form, although it is not required. Requests must provide sufficient details to assist staff in retrieving records.
3. Deliver, mail or email your FOI request to FOI coordinator.

How long does the process take?

Informal requests will be responded to as quickly as possible by the department who holds the information. Depending on the kind of information you are requesting, you may be able to get an answer immediately when you phone or email.

Formal FOI requests must be responded to within 30 business days of receiving the request, as required by FIPPA. We will make every effort to make the records available to you sooner, if possible. If your request is broad in scope, or requires a large volume of records to respond to your request, FIPPA allows an extension to the time limit for an additional 30 business days.

What will I receive from my FOI request?

Depending on the request, you may not get access to all information contained within the records. FIPPA includes several specific exemptions to the disclosure of information. For example, some reasons for withholding access to information:

• Private personal information (see our Privacy statement for more information)
• Businesses trade secrets or unit pricing
• Solicitor-client privilege
• Deliberations of Board and Council Committees that are authorized to be held in the absence of the public (i.e. closed or "in camera" meetings)
• Policy advice, staff recommendations or draft regulations not yet made public
• Information that may harm a law enforcement matter (this includes bylaw enforcement matters)
• Information that may harm the financial interests of the RDCO or other public body

If you do not get access to all information you requested, you will be advised of the reasons for the refusal and the FIPPA provision(s) on which the refusal is based. If you are not satisfied with how  we respond to your FOI request, you have the right to ask the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC to review the RDCO response. A decision of the Commissioner is final, subject to certain limited judicial reviews.