The document provides an introduction to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) in Ontario. It discusses the key purposes and principles of the act, which include establishing the general right of public access to records held by municipal governments, limiting any exemptions, and allowing for independent review of decisions. The document also outlines the procedures for submitting FOI requests to municipalities, including filling out a form and potential application fees. Key aspects of the MFIPPA legislation are also excerpted.

1. Introduction to the Municipal
Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act: Ontario
Guinsly Mondésir
July 2017

2. Overview
● Introduction
○ Abbr FOI stands for Freedom Of Information
● Key points
● French
○ accès à l'information municipale et la protection de la vie privée (Loi sur l'), L.R.O. 1990,
chap. M.56

3. Purposes
The Municipal Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act establishes a general
right of access to records held by municipal
government and local agencies, boards and
commissions.

4. Principles (Guidelines)
● any information held by government should, in general, be available to the
public
● any exemptions from the right of access to information should be limited
and specific
● any decisions relating to access to information can be reviewed by the
independent Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
● any person may make a request for information held by a government
institution covered by the Act

5. Procedures
● Following the cities there is procedure available so that a user can submit a
Freedom of Information (FOI) Request
● Filling the form doesn’t assure you that you will have the information
(document) needed.
○ Because this request can be be refused by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the
instance but you can fill a form to Appeal this decision.
● Depending on the city a non-refundable application fee (i.e. $5.00 ) may
need to be paid when submitting an Access Request.

6. Excerpt: Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56
Purposes
1 The purposes of this Act are,
(a) to provide a right of access to information under the control of institutions in accordance with
the principles that,
(i) information should be available to the public,
(ii) necessary exemptions from the right of access should be limited and specific, and
(iii) decisions on the disclosure of information should be reviewed independently of the institution
controlling the information; and
(b) to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held
by institutions and to provide individuals with a right of access to that information. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, s. 1.

7. Example of Request

9. References and see also
● See also
○ PHIPA - Personal Health Information Protection Act
○ Information and Privacy commissioner of Ontario
● City of Toronto
● Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O.
1990, c. M.56