How we are doing now

This is a new measure with the baseline to be established in the first year. It is an effort to improve government transparency by providing information about access to information decisions made by government departments.

This measure supports the “Be Transparent (open government)” objective by publicly reporting information about government department responses to access to information requests. The disclosure of this information will inform Manitobans about access to information decisions as well as to provide an account of the activities and performance of the entire government. Progress on this measure will be achieved by implementing a monthly reporting of access decisions by departments to IPPS. IPPS will be responsible for providing monthly reports to Balanced Scorecards.

Data Source

Each department will report access decisions to IPPS. IPPS will compile the data received into an aggregated list that will be published on the proactive disclosure website. The list will include information about the records that were requested by the applicant, the access decision made and the response date. Prior to disclosure, the list will be reviewed to ensure third party information is not inappropriately disclosed. In accordance with the privacy protection requirements of FIPPA, requests by individuals for their own personal information will not be listed.

The measure will demonstrate the completion by government departments in responding to access requests as required by FIPPA. The percentage reported monthly to Balanced Scorecards represents the number of departments reporting access decisions listed on the proactive disclosure website.

Detailed statistics are also published online in the FIPPA annual report. It includes the number of requests received, and completed, the timeliness of responses, and the exceptions to disclosure that are applied to requests.

How we are doing over time

As this is a new initiative, there is no data available at this time.

Why This Matters

Open Government fosters greater openness, transparency and accountability, enhances public engagement and participation in policymaking and service design and creates a more efficient and responsive government.

Next steps

As this report and related measures of transparency mature, government will review this measure to ensure it is achieving its intended impact. The objective of increased proactive disclosure and other initiatives on the overall volume of access to information requests ultimately may mitigate the frequency with which the public exercises it right of access to records.

At this time, it is not expected any policies or regulations will affect this measure.

Other related links

• List of Access Decisions
  The list of access decisions will be posted on the proactive disclosure website on a monthly basis. The list will include information about the records that were requested by the applicant, the access decision made and the response date. In accordance with the privacy protection requirements of FIPPA, requests by individuals for their own personal information will not be listed.
• Access and Privacy Coordinators Contact Information
  This webpage contains the contact information for Access and Privacy Coordinators for the Government of Manitoba. These individuals are responsible for receiving applications for access to information under FIPPA as well as the day-to-day administration of the Act.
• Information and Privacy Policy Secretariat
  IPPS provides leadership and expertise in the Manitoba government on information accessibility, confidentiality and privacy policy issues, as well as support services to other public bodies under FIPPA. The website assists individuals in making access to information requests and understanding their access to information and privacy rights. The website also provides resources to public bodies to assist them in responding to access to information requests and protecting personal information.
• Manitoba Ombudsman
  The Manitoba Ombudsman is responsible for investigating complaints and reviewing compliance with access to information and protection of privacy rights under FIPPA. The website provides information for the public in understanding their access to information and privacy rights, as well as resources for public bodies to assist them in administering their responsibilities under the Act. The Manitoba Ombudsman is also responsible for oversight for the Personal Health Information Act, the Ombudsman Act and the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
  A consolidated copy of FIPPA legislation that public bodies are required to use when processing applications for access.
• FIPPA Annual Report
  This webpage contains the current and previous versions of the FIPPA annual report and supplementary statistics.