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Access to Information Act

The Government of Alberta has changed its access to information legislation. The Access to Information Act (ATIA)  came into force on June 11, 2025, and replaces part of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). ATIA governs how the public accesses records held by public bodies in Alberta, aiming to strike a balance between the public's right to know and the individual's right to privacy, with regard to records held by County of Vermilion River.

Summary of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) in relation to the County of Vermilion River:

  • You have the right to request access to County of Vermilion River information.
  • You have the right to access your personal information held by County of Vermilion River.
  • You have the right to request that County of Vermilion River correct your personal information.

Protection of Privacy

The Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) governs how public bodies, such as the County of Vermilion River, may collect, use or disclose personal information, and requires the protection of personal information held by public bodies.

Summary of the Protection to Privacy Act (POPA) in relation to County of Vermilion River:

  • County of Vermilion River must tell you why it is collecting your personal information.
  • County of Vermilion River must only collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes stated in the POPA.
  • You have the right to file a complaint about any issue related to POPA, including an access request you have made or a privacy breach. Complainants may be directed to request independent review of any issue related to ATIA or POPA by the provincial Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. 

All fees and response times follow the Protection of Privacy Act and Regulations.

Requests for General Information

To request general information about County of Vermilion River or Council, please complete the  Access to Information Request Form.

Describe what you are looking for in detail. If you need more room than is provided on the form, you may provide a separate page for the details.

Include a $25 (no GST) initial payment. Processing begins after this initial fee is paid.

Send the form via email to acao@county24.com or mail/deliver the form to the County of Vermilion River Office addressed to the Privacy Coordinator.

Once the request has been reviewed you will be advised of any additional fees. If the total fee for completing your request is estimated to be greater than $150, you will be asked to pay a 50% deposit. Processing of the request will be suspended until the deposit is received.

County of Vermilion River has 30 business days to respond to initial ATI requests. The ATI Act and/or the  Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) may permit additional time, if required.

When the request is complete, you will be notified of the actual cost and will be required to pay any balance due before the records are provided to you.

Requests for Personal Information

To request personal information about you that is held by the County of Vermilion River, please complete the Access to Information Request Form.

Describe the information about yourself that you wish disclosed, including dates, names, aliases, file numbers, and any other relevant details.

No payment is required for personal information, although copying costs may be charged.

Send the form via email to acao@county24.com or mail/deliver the form to the County of Vermilion River Office addressed to the Privacy Coordinator.

County of Vermilion River has 30 business days to respond to initial ATI requests. The ATI Act, POP Act, and/or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) may permit additional time, if required.

You will be required to provide proof of identity before records containing your personal information can be released to you.

Publicly Available Information

Lots of publicly available information is on our website. You can view Council Meetings, Agendas, and Minutes, Policies and Bylaws, and much more.

If you have any questions about anything listed on our website or would like further information, please Contact us and a member of staff will be more than happy to assist you.

Payment Structure for Access to Information Requests

The Access to Information Act Regulation A.R. 133/2025, as amended, indicates the payment structure of official Access to Information requests in addition to the County of Vermilion River Fee Bylaw.

Requests for Non-Personal Information

  1. A one-time or non-continuing request requires an initial fee of $25, while a continuing request (which involves multiple or periodic records) requires a $50 initial fee.
  2. If the public body estimates that the cost of processing the request exceeds $150, additional fees based on Schedule 1 of the Regulation may be charged. In such cases, the applicant must pay a deposit equal to 50% of the estimated total before any further processing occurs
  3. No fees are charged for the time spent reviewing records.

Requests for Personal Information

  1. Individuals have the right to information about themselves, subject to limited exceptions under the Access to Information Act.
  2. No initial fee is required.
  3. If the estimated cost of producing copies exceeds $10, the public body may charge fees, limited to the actual cost of copying the records, in accordance with Access to Information Act Regulation.
  4. To safeguard personal privacy, individuals requesting access to their own personal information will be required to provide valid proof of identity before any records can be released.