Transcript
Transcript: The Essentials: Access to Information and Privacy
Introduction
As you sit at work organizing your projects, responding to emails, filing invoices, and using your mobile device, you are creating information.
This information is useful; it can help you accomplish your tasks.
This information also serves as a timeline of progress, helping to track what was done, and what failed.
This information is important and at some point, someone is going to want to see it.
Access to Information Act
The Access to Information Act was designed to serve this need; carrying out the government's operating policy of transparency.
Canadian residents have the right to access any information regarding the administration of government and the Act ensures that the information is made available to them.
The Access to Information Act is so important that any request for information takes precedence over your everyday tasks: delivering information becomes your top priority.
Privacy Act
Now, you may be asking yourself, "Are we also giving out secret and top-secret information to the public?"
To the contrary! Some information is sensitive by nature.
The Access to Information Act has provisions to protect sensitive information and when it comes to personal information, the Privacy Act ensures that that information is also protected.
Individuals have the right to access their own personal information but no one else does.
ATIP
Together, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are referred to as "ATIP" and they ensure that the public can get the information they need while also determining what information should be protected. The public expects quick and easy access to information. And so do you.
Conclusion
The Canada School of Public Service offers resources to guide you in properly identifying information and steps to follow when processing a request. ATIP, it's essential.
