Alberta Overhauls Public-sector Privacy And Access To Information Law

Introduced in 1995, Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) has guided public sector privacy and access practices in the province for decades. It has seen few changes since, with the last major update nearly 20 years ago. On December 4, 2024, the Alberta Legislative Assembly passed Bill 33 and Bill 34, which on coming into force will replace the FOIP Act with the Protection of Privacy Act (PPA) and Access to Information Act (ATIA).

These Bills received royal assent on December 5, 2024. Further details on Alberta's new public sector privacy and access to information regime are expected through regulations to be released in Spring 2025.

Around 1,200 public bodies previously governed by FOIP Act will shortly be subject to PPA and ATIA. This article highlights key changes to Alberta's public-sector privacy law, which transform how public-sector bodies will manage personal information and respond to access requests, and better align