Local Governments routinely deal with informal requests to
access property and licensing files at the "counter" as
well as more formal freedom of information requests. Information in
those files may typically seem to be "about" the property
or business. In some cases, however, the property information will
have a personal dimension. As a result, the Local Government may be
required to withhold that information without consent to disclose
or providing notice under FOIPPA.
How can Local Governments manage these requests?
The recent Alberta Court of Appeal decision in Edmonton
(City) v. Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2016
ABCA 110 gives us some guidance.
A resident of Edmonton, Ms. McCloskey, asked the City to provide
her with all records relating to herself or her property. The
interpretation and application of "personal information"
was key to the question of whether the City was entitled to charge
a fee for Ms. McCloskey's request. The City took
