Privacy

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)

The Alberta Insurance Council, the Insurance Adjusters' Council, the General Insurance Council and the Life Insurance Council (Councils) are Crown Controlled Organizations which operate under a delegation from the Minister of Finance and Enterprise. As such the Councils are subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The FOIP Act legislates open and accountable government by guaranteeing applicants the right to access records held by the Councils. It is a principle of the Act that access to records be given unless the Act specifically allows the record to be withheld.

The right of access is balanced by the need to protect individual privacy. The Act controls how personal information is collected, used and disclosed. It prevents another person from seeing your personal information without your consent.

You can ask to see records held by the Councils, including personal information about you. You have the right to request that your personal information held in Councils files be corrected if it is not accurate. This is not an absolute right, and a request to correct information may be turned down.

Finally, the Act provides for review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner if individuals are not satisfied with the decisions of public bodies in response to requests made under the Act. Individuals can also complain to the Commissioner if they believe their personal information has been collected, used or disclosed in violation of the Act.

The Alberta government has produced a directory to let people know where government records are kept. To find out which public body has the records you are interested in, look for the copy of the Alberta Directory at any provincial government department or public library.

You may be able to get the information you want without making a formal request under the Act. It is hoped that if government routinely releases information, most people will not need to use the access provisions of the Act. A great deal of provincial government information is routinely released and a phone call or visit to a department may get the help or information you need.

If the information you want is not available as a matter of routine, a formal request for access to information under the FOIP Act may be necessary. At this point, you can speak to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Coordinator for the public body. The FOIP Coordinator may suggest an alternative information source.

The FOIP Coordinator for the Alberta Insurance Council, Insurance Adjusters Council, General Insurance Council and Life Insurance Council is:

If the formal process is the only option available to you, the FOIP Coordinator may help you complete a request form. A listing of all provincial FOIP Coordinators is available on the Access and Privacy branch website.

The more specific your request under the Act, the more quickly and accurately it can be answered. The law generally requires the government to respond within 30 calendar days of receiving your request.

 

Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

On January 1, 2004 the Personal Information Protection Act came into force in Alberta. The Alberta Insurance Council does not administer or enforce this act as it relates to the activities of Agents Broker or Adjuster. Inquiries relating to how this act effects you or you organization can be made to the following :

Service Alberta , Access and Privacy
Phone: 780-644-PIPA (7472) Toll free dial 310-0000 first within Alberta

E-mail: pspinfo@gov.ab.ca
Web site: www.psp.gov.ab.ca

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Toll free: 1-888-878-4044
E-mail: generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca
Web site: www.oipc.ab.ca