Access and privacy analyst with the Privacy Commissioners office Suzanne Hollett (left) and access to information and privacy protection office
representative Erin Drover were speakers at the MNL conference in Gander regarding changes to the Access to Information rules this past Friday.
The way the public can access information is changing and at their annual convention, towns from across the province were updated on changes to the access to information rules.
Hollett, along with Erin Drover, of the Access to Information and Privacy Protection Office were at the MNL conference in Gander to talk about the changes.
“One big change was in the definition of public bodies that now includes organizations owned by, created by or created for municipalities and which manage a municipal asset or fulfill a municipal responsibility,” Drover told municipalities.
Hollett said the purpose of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA) was to increase transparency and accountability of public bodies and elected officials, protect privacy and enable meaningful participation in democratic process.
“If people don’t have access to information, they can’t make meaningful choices when it comes to voting, deciding how they want to see their communities progress and things like that,” Hollett said.
Along with the ATIPPA revisions came an entirely new education system mandate for public bodies as well as the public, Hollett said.
Guidelines, tip sheets, information, etectra can be found at www. oipc.nl.ca.
