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ARTICLE · 01 JULY 2025

What Alberta's Privacy Legislative Changes Mean For Municipalities

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On June 11, 2025, Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) was repealed and replaced with two new pieces of legislation: the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA).

CanadaPrivacy
Milad Alishahi
Milad Alishahi
Bailey Woloshyn
Bailey Woloshyn
Sharon Au
Sharon Au
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These legislative changes are sure to have substantial impact on municipalities across Alberta, as they modernize and streamline Alberta's access to information and privacy laws, strengthen privacy protections and clarify access to electronic records.

What's Changed?

Access to Information Act

The ATIA allows individuals access to the records in the custody or under the control of a municipality and provides for independent review of decisions made by municipalities. Key changes and additions introduced in the ATIA include:

  • Recognition of electronic records
  • Extended response time for municipalities' requests during emergency situations
  • Timelines for responding are defined as "business days"

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