Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, will come into effect on January 1, 2016.
This Bill amends the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) to include requirements for institutions to ensure the preservation of records. As a result of the amendments, heads of institutions will be required to take “reasonable measures” to preserve records in their custody or control. The amendments apply to all stages of the information life cycle and make it an offence to alter, conceal or destroy a record with the intention of denying access.
As the body that oversees compliance with FIPPA and MFIPPA, the IPC strongly supports the amendments because they will bring increased transparency and accountability to Ontario public institutions.
We have prepared this new paper to help institutions understand their responsibilities under the recordkeeping amendments, as well as develop and implement plans to address these provisions.
