The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990 (MFIPPA) has been in effect since January 1, 1991. This legislation regulates and controls the information that is made available to the public and provides for a formal procedure to request records. The Act not only provides rights to the public to gain access to Municipal records, but also protects the privacy of individuals.
There is a general right of access to municipal records under MFIPPA, however this right is subject to the application of exemptions that may apply to records.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests
TheOffice of the Clerkis responsible for handling MFIPPA requests, which are processed in accordance with the Town's Freedom of Information Request Policy .
Various municipal records are readily available on the Town website and do not require a formal Freedom of Information request. Examples of these records include Council and Committee Agendas and Minutes, Reports, By-Laws and Town Policies.
To make a formal request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), submit a completed FOI Request Form to the Office of the Clerk at 10 Lisgar Avenue along with the $5.00 application fee (payable to Town of Tillsonburg).
There is a $5.00 application fee. The following additional fees may also be charged under MFIPPA:
- $7.50 per 15 minutes of time spent searching for, retrieving and preparing a record for disclosure, including the time to sever any part of the record in accordance with the exemptions under the Act;
- $0.20 per page for photocopying and computer printouts.
Other fees may apply depending on the nature of the request. The Town Clerk will inform you of what these fees are in—in advance—as required by the Act.
As per the provisions of MFIPPA, the municipality has 30 calendar days (including weekends and statutory holidays) from the date a FOI request has been received with the applicable fee, to provide the information to the requester and/or a decision regarding the request.
There are circumstances where the Office of the Clerk may require an extension. If an extension is required, the Clerk will notify you in writing.