Freedom of Information

Access requests received under MFIPPA are processed as follows:

1. The Clerks’ Office receives the application to access municipal records and a records request is sent to the appropriate department. 
2. The records are reviewed to determine if exemptions may apply under the Act.
3. Non-responsive or exempt information is removed from the record.
4. The County will issue an access decision letter within 30 days from receiving the request. You will be notified if a time extension is required or if a deposit fee is due.
5. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. The process is outlined below.

In processing a request for in formation under MFIPPA, the County incurs certain costs. MFIPPA sets out the following fees:

• $5 application fee must be enclosed with your request
• $7.50 per 15 minutes of search time (does not apply to requests for own personal information)
• $7.50 per 15 minutes to prepare the records for disclosure (does not apply to requests for own personal information)
• 20 ¢ per page for photocopies and/or computer printouts
• $15 per 15 minutes, if necessary to develop a computer programme to retrieve information
• $10 for disks
• Shipping costs

Other fees may be charged depending on the nature of the request. The Information Coordinator will apprise you in advance of what these fees are in accordance with the Act.

If we believe the request will cost more than $25, we will contact you for approval to proceed with the request or to give you the opportunity to revise your request in order to reduce the costs. 

If we believe the request will cost more than $100, we will contact you to request a 50 per cent deposit of the estimated cost before proceeding with the request. No records will be released until all outstanding fees are paid.

You have the right to appeal any decision about access to records (including fees and time extensions). This includes appealing a decision if your request for information is denied.

You may file an appeal online with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario by:

• Downloading and completing an appeal form (or by submitting a written letter to the contact information below)
  
  IPC Registrar
  Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
  2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
  Toronto, Ontario  M4W 1A8
  Phone: 1-800-387-0073
  www.ipc.on.ca
• Submitting the form to the Information and Privacy Commissioner Registrar within 30 calendar days of the County giving notice of its decision

Someone who is given access to his/her own personal information may request that the County make a correction to that information if he/she believes the information is incorrect. The County will decide whether to make the correction or not. If the information is not corrected, the person may ask that a Statement of Disagreement be attached to the record to indicate that he/she does not believe that the information is accurate.

To request a correction of personal information

1. Please complete a Freedom of Information Request Form and select option “Correction to Personal Information”.
2. Return it to the Clerk's Office located in the:
   
   County of Wellington
   Administration Centre
   74 Woolwich St.
   Guelph ON N1H 3T9