Overview

• Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod found all 27 provincial departments violated the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).
• The investigation uncovered improper practices, including narrowing requests, splitting multi-topic requests into several costly ones, and restricting time frames.
• An internal manual, the 'Access Request Playbook,' was identified as instructing practices that contravene the law’s intent to ensure public access to information.
• The report recommends overhauling internal policies and improving the government’s duty to assist applicants in accessing records.
• The findings come as Alberta prepares to implement the Access to Information Act, which critics warn may further limit transparency and public access to records.