Privacy Policy

Changes to Legislation

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) andProtection of Privacy Act (POPA) came into force on June 11, 2025. These two new pieces of legislation replace the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).

As part of transitioning to the new legislation, the Municipality is updating notifications on forms and webpages that collect personal information. Personal information that was collected under the authority of section 33(c) of the FOIP Act is now collected under section 4(c) of POPA. If you have questions about a notification statement during this transition period, please reach out using the contact information included in that notification statement.

Access and Privacy Officer

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4
Email: accessandprivacy@rmwb.ca

1. Access to Information

2. Protection of Privacy

Access to Information

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) provides individuals with:

the right to access records in the custody or under control of a public body subject to limited and specific and exceptions;

the right to access personal information about themselves that is held by a public body, subject to limited and specific exceptions as set out in this Act; and

the right to ask for independent reviews of decisions made by public bodies and resolution of complaints under the act.

The Municipality aims to be as transparent as possible and makes general information available to the public through routine dissemination provided the information is not subject to exemption from disclosure under ATIA and does not contain personal information about other individuals.

Informal Requests for Information

Before submitting a formal ATIA request, please contact the appropriate department or the Access and Privacy Office to see if the information you seek is readily available. You may be able to find the information you seek or determine which department to contact on the municipal website.

If you are unable to obtain the information you are seeking after using the above process, you may submit a formal request for records under ATIA.

Formal ATIA Requests

ATIA requests can be submitted using the Request to Access Information Form.

Under ATIA, there are two types of requests – general requests and personal requests.

General request

A general request is any request that does not contain your personal information.

Examples of general requests include:

an agreement,

a municipal report, and

emails about a municipal program.

Type of Request	Initial Fee	Additional Fees
General Request	$25	Fees for processing general requests (search time, applying exceptions to disclosure, photocopying).

Personal request

A personal request is a request for records that contain the applicant’s personal information.

Examples of a personal request include:

the applicant’s municipal personnel file, and

bylaw complaints in which the applicant is a party.

Type of Request	Initial Fee	Additional Fees
Personal Request	none	Fees for processing personal requests are charged only if the cost of producing the records is more than $10. You will receive a fee estimate only if there are more than 133 pages - otherwise there is no charge.

Personal request on behalf of another individual

In some instances, an applicant may submit a personal request on behalf of another individual. In those cases, the Access and Privacy Officer will determine whether the applicant has the authorization of the individual whose information is requested, or has some other right under ATIA.

Applicants may use an Authorization of Representative form to provide evidence of permission.

Completing the Request to Access Information Form

Enter your name, address, phone number, and email address.
- If applicable, enter company name.
Indicate if you are requesting general or personal information.
Indicate if you would like to examine the records or receive a copy of the records.
Provide as much detail as possible, including a description of the records you would like to access, the name of the municipal department that you believe holds the records, and the time period for the records.
Enclose the initial application fee, if applicable, or make the payment through Pulse
- General – enclose initial application fee of $25 (cash or cheque made out to “Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo”, or by cash, debit, or credit card in person at Jubilee Centre, Cashier's Office).
- Personal information about you – no initial fee required.
Sign and date the request and send it to the Access and Privacy Officer with fees, if applicable.
Mail or hand deliver your request to:
Access and Privacy Officer
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue, Fort McMurray
AB T9H 2K4

Alternate Method of Requesting Access to Information

The Municipality will accept access to information requests not using the form above as long as the request is in writing (mail or email), the request states that it is made under ATIA, and any required fee is submitted.

Responding to a request to access information

The Municipality has 30 business days to respond to your request. There may be extensions as stipulated in the Act. If an exception to disclosure applies, the requested information may be withheld.

Protection of Privacy

Under the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) the Municipality can collect personal information for three purposes:

If it is expressly authorized by a federal act, provincial act, or municipal bylaw.
If it is collected for the purpose of law enforcement.
If the information relates directly to and is necessary for an operating program or activity of the public body, including a common or integrated program or service.

POPA establishes limits on disclosure and provides guidelines for data matching (i.e., linking personal information from different sources).

Requesting Corrections to Personal Information

POPA provides individuals with the right to request corrections to personal information help by a public body. You can request that your own personal information be corrected or that the personal information of another person be corrected if you have the authority to act for that person.

POPA requests can be submitted using the Request to Correct Personal Information Form.

Completing the Request to Correct Personal Information Form

Enter your name, address, phone number, and email address.
- If applicable, enter company name.
Indicate if you are requesting to correct your own personal information or another person’s information.
Provide proof of your identity if you are requesting corrections to your own personal information or provide proof that you have the authority to act for another person if you are requesting corrections to that person’s personal information.
Identify the personal information which needs to be corrected.
Provide as much detail as possible, including a description of the records you would like corrected, rationale for the correction, and the name of the municipal department that you believe holds the records.
Sign and date the request and send it to the Access and Privacy Officer with fees, if applicable.
Mail or hand deliver your request to:
Access and Privacy Officer
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue, Fort McMurray
AB T9H 2K4

Directory of Personal Information Banks

Personal information banks (PIBs) are any collections of personal information that are organized or retrievable by the name of the individual or by an identifying number, symbol, or other particular assigned to an individual.

In accordance with section 57(2) of Alberta's Protection of Privacy Act (POPA), the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is providing a PIB Directory.

The PIB Directory lists the following for each PIB:

Title and location of the PIB

Description of the types of personal information maintained in the PIB.

Categories of individuals whose personal information is included.

Authority for collecting the personal information.

Purpose for which the personal information was collected or compiled and the purposes for which it is used or disclosed.

Whether the personal information is available in hard copy or electronic format.

Download printable PIBs Directory

PULSE
Submit a request

Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663