Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
As part of a broader effort to modernize access to information, Alberta’s government passed the Access to Information Act in December 2024. The act comes into effect June 11 and introduces a clearer and more streamlined process for obtaining information from government and public bodies. It enhances regulatory functions, clarifies procedural steps and sets timelines for the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to complete reviews.
Alberta’s government is rolling out a new proactive disclosure policy that formalizes existing practices. Public bodies are now officially empowered by policy to release information on their own, making it easier for Albertans to access information without having to file formal requests. You can find more details on Transparency Alberta, a new website that brings together information sources in one place to make access to information easier. The site currently hosts over 3,000 data sets and nearly 32,000 pieces of information.
“Access to information plays a vital role in ensuring public confidence and trust in the integrity of government institutions. The regulations and policies that will support the Access to Information Act will help secure that trust by demonstrating the government’s open and accessible approach to handling official records and enabling and encouraging government departments to proactively disclose more information to Albertans. Albertans have a right to know, and we expect that the number of records available through Transparency Alberta will grow with the consistent application of the Proactive Disclosure Policy.”
- The regulations provide clarity on key aspects of the act, including roles and responsibilities within government, outlining what public bodies must consider when assessing their duty to assist Albertans in getting information, and describing how cabinet records must be confirmed through an attestation process. These regulations incorporate existing provisions from the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Regulation, along with new provisions that reflect changes introduced by the Access to Information Act.
Quick facts
- The Access to Information Act (ATIA) supporting regulations will help ensure the administration and procedural aspects of the act comply with the new legislation as they are implemented.
- The ATIA regulation includes:
- Existing provisions from the FOIP Regulation relevant to the access to information.
- New provisions that address changes to the ATIA related to definitions of new terms (i.e., political staff), clarifications on the duty to assist and the attestation process for cabinet records.
- The Proactive Disclosure Policy provides Albertans with more information about access to government records and supports government implementation of the ATIA by:
- identifying the comprehensive categories of records Alberta’s government can disclose proactively; and
- granting the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction the authority to update the policy as needed.
Related news
- Increasing privacy and protection for Albertans (June 12, 2025)
- Updates to privacy and legislation (March 20, 2025)