Access to Information and Protection of Privacy
What is ATIA?
The Access to Information Act (ATIA) came into force on June 11, 2025, and replaces the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The ATIA allows access to records held by public bodies in Alberta and is the cornerstone of an open, accessible and accountable public body. It aims to strike a balance between the public’s right to know information and protecting confidential information required to ensure effective operations of government and public bodies.
What is POPA?
The Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) came into force on June 11, 2025, and is the legislative framework by which public bodies may collect, use or disclose personal information and requires the protection of personal information held by public bodies. It also allows public bodies to create, use and disclose non-personal data in limited circumstances.
Access to Information
Under the ATIA, the public can access and review a Public Body’s records. You can ask for records that contain:
- Information about a public body’s activities or programs
- Personal information about yourself or on behalf of someone else
- Request the correction of your own personal information
Find out which organizations have the records you want
If you want to request records from other public organizations, you need to contact them directly. For example, Crown Corporations, school districts, health authorities, Calgary Police Service or the City of Calgary all process their own requests for records.
Understand that some information cannot be released under ATIA, for example, a public body may choose to withhold or be required to withhold sensitive information that an applicant may not be entitled to as per the provisions of the Act.
You can ask for records that contain information about Calgary Housing program activities or personal information, example: Your Personal Residency File.
Be specific about which records you want. Broad requests take a long time to process and may result in you being charged a processing fee.
Click here to download the Access to Information or Correction of Personal information Form
Currently, there are no application fees being charged by Calgary Housing. Processing fees may be assessed for large or complex requests for information.
Prior to any processing fees being charged, a fee estimate will be communicated to the applicant.
Section 13(1) of the ATIA requires that the head of a public body must take every reasonable effort to respond to a request no later than 30 business days after receiving the requirements of section 7(2) have been met. However, the 30‐day time limit may be extended if:
- A large volume of records is requested
- Consultation with other organizations is needed
- More details are needed to identify records
Your request is received and applicable responsive records are gathered
- The Access and Privacy Coordinator reviews the records for your request to make sure you get everything you requested and that information that must be withheld is severed.
- Arrangements can be made as to how you wish to receive your records; email, pick up, or regular mail. For personal information requests, you will need to show or verify your identity before you can receive the records.
As per the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s (OIPC) direction: Effective April 1, 2024, for reviews where the only concern is that you believe Calgary Housing (CH) holds more responsive records than what were processed in the request, you will be required to submit the concern directly to CH first, along with supporting evidence as to why you believe additional records exist. Please allow CH at least 30 working days to respond to your concerns. After you attempt to resolve this matter directly with CH, if you still have reason to believe the response does not comply with the relevant law, you may submit your complaint to the OIPC within 60 days after receiving a response to your request.
You can download and submit a Request for Review/Complaint form here
Protection of Privacy
As per section 1(q) of the POPA, personal information is described to be recorded information about an identifiable individual.
Examples of personal information: The individual’s name, home or business address or home or business telephone number.
Public bodies cannot collect personal information unless the collection is authorized under section 4 of the Act. Section 4 of the Act authorizes the collection of personal information if:
- the collection of personal information is expressly authorized by or under an enactment of Alberta or Canada;
- the personal information is collected for the purposes of law enforcement; or
- the personal information relates directly to and is necessary for an operating program or activity of the public body.
Calgary housing ensures that we collect and use your personal information solely for the purpose by which it was collected.
Section 10 of the POPA requires a public body to protect personal information by making reasonable security arrangements against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or destruction.
At Calgary Housing, we are committed to protecting your personal information from unauthorized collection, use and/or disclosure.
A privacy breach means the theft or loss, or the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information in the custody or under the control of a public body as per POPA.
A privacy complaint may result when you have concerns about the way a “public body” has handled or processed your personal information.
Privacy breaches or complaints can be reported by employees, citizens to Calgary Housing. A formal investigation, which may involve management, is conducted. This investigation may result in recommendations being made to mitigate privacy risks.
If you feel that Calgary Housing has breached your privacy, or you have a complaint in how your personal information was handled or processed, you have the right to notify Calgary Housing by downloading this form.
Please include any supporting evidence to support your allegation and use this form. Or email/mail/phone.
Submitting Complaint Form:
By email at chprivacyprogram@calgary.ca
Or by regular mail to:
Access and Privacy Coordinator
Calgary Housing
200, 2535 3rd Ave SE
Calgary AB T2A 7W5
(368) 886-3165
You can also deliver your form in person during regular business hours (9:30am-4:00pm daily, closed weekends and holidays).
As per section 13(1)(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act “POPA” and section 2 of the POPA Regulations, this Informed Consent for Disclosure of Personal Information document allows for you to request the disclosure of your personal information to another person, designated agent or agency, legal counsel, or other authorized representatives. You may email your form to the Access and Privacy Coordinator at: chprivacyprogram@calgary.ca.
