Processing of Access to Information and Privacy Requests
The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act came into effect in July 1983. They both concern information held by federal government institutions. The Access to Information Act establishes the rights of all individuals and corporate entities present in Canada to have access to information contained in federal government records. The Privacy Act gives all individuals in Canada the right of access to information about themselves, and governs the collection, retention, use, protection and disclosure of personal information.
1.0 Policy
It is the policy of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to:
1.1 Ensure that all requests for access to information submitted under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act (ATIP) are processed through the Departmental Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator.
1.2 Ensure that decisions on the release of information and on the application of specific exemptions and exclusions are recorded and approved by the delegated authority as identified in the departmental Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Designation Orders.
2.0 Application
2.1 This policy applies to all requests for information submitted to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board under the Access to Information and Privacy Acts.
2.2 The administration and coordination of all activities related to the ATIP Acts are carried out by the ATIP group, Board Secretariat.
3.0 Definitions
Excluded Records include published material, material available for purchase by the public, library or museum material made or acquired and preserved solely for public reference or exhibition purposes, material placed in Public Archives, the National Library or the National Museum of Canada by or on behalf of persons or organizations other than government institutions and confidences of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
Exemptions are provisions of the ATIP Acts which entitle or require the heads of federal government institutions to withhold records/information requested under the Acts.
Formal Request is a request that is made in writing to a government institution that has control of the record.
Informal Request is a request for departmental records which does not invoke the right of access provided by the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act. Information subject to exemption under the Acts is not released informally. There are no formal time constraints, fees or opportunities for independent review of decisions for these types of requests.
4.0 Mandatory Requirements
4.1 Requests for information must be processed in accordance with the ATIP Acts, the ATIP Regulations and the Treasury Board Secretariat policy guides.
4.2 Any formal written request for information submitted under the ATIP Acts must be forwarded to:
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
333 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1400
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C1
4.3 The Acts requires that the PMPRB respond within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request.
5.0 Guidelines
5.1 When any doubt exists as to whether information can be released informally, advice may be obtained from the ATIP Coordinator at PMPRB.ATIP-AIPRB.CEPMB@pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca.
6.0 References
6.1 This policy should be read in conjunction with the following documents:
Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1980-81-82-83-85, c. 111, Sch I "1"
Access to Information Regulations
Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1980-81-82-83-85, c. 111, Sch II "1"
Privacy Regulations
Treasury Board Manual: Access to Information Volume, December 1993
Treasury Board Manual: Privacy and Data Protection Volume, December 1993
7.0 Forms
8.0 Information
For further information, please contact the ATIP Coordinator.
If you wish to submit a formal request to receive PMPRB records, please send a letter stating that you are seeking records under the Access to Information Act, and provide as much detail as possible about the information you are seeking. Mail your letter to the address below, along with the required application fee of $5.00 in cash, or cheque or money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Without the application fee, correspondence will not be treated as a request under the Act.
E-mail: PMPRB.ATIP-AIPRB.CEPMB@pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca
Teletypewriter: 613-288-9654