File a Freedom of Information Request

Access requests received under MFIPPA are processed as follows:

1. Application to access municipal records is received by City Clerk's Office.
2. City department staff are notified of the request and asked to respond to the Clerk's Office within a set time.
3. The records are reviewed to determine if exemptions apply under the Act.
4. Non-responsive or exempt information is removed from the record.
5. The City will issue an access decision letter within the legislative timelines of the Act.
6. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Ontario (see process below)

An appeal must be sent in writing to the Registrar within 30 days after the City has given notice of its decision.

Download the IPCO FIPPA/MFIPPA Appeal Form

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

The appeal should include:

1. your name, address and telephone number
2. the government organization’s name (City of Hamilton)
3. the freedom of information request file number
4. a copy of the City’s decision letter
5. a copy of your request
6. a brief explanation of the basis for the appeal
7. the appeal fee of $25.00, payable to the Minister of Finance

Fees for general information requests about another individual, a government program or activity

*Any costs to locate, retrieve, process, and copy the record will be charged if they are itemized in an invoice the City received.

Fees for personal information about yourself:

*Any costs to locate, retrieve, process, and copy the record will be charged if they are itemized in an invoice the City received.

Pursuant to Section 3 (3) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, City Council is designated as the head of the Municipal Corporation for the purposes of the Act.

Under Section 49 (1), the powers and duties under the said Act have been delegated to the City Clerk, the Manager of Records & Freedom of Information and the Access and Privacy Officer for the City of Hamilton, subject to the condition that the City Clerk shall refer any request for access to a record to the Corporate Administration Committee for consideration and decision where he/she is of the opinion that a decision to grant or to refuse the request could have significant consequences on the interests of the Municipal Corporation.

Under the Personal Health Information Protection Act you may contact your Health Information Custodian directly for your personal health information. Should your Health Information Custodian require that a more formal access request process be followed, you will be referred to the Privacy Officer for the City's Public Health Services department.

Access requests and questions about the freedom of information process for the City of Hamilton can be directed to:

Manager, Records and Freedom of Information
City Clerk's Division
City Hall
71 Main Street West, 1st Floor
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 2743
Fax: 905-546-2095
Email: [email protected]