Forms and fees by province
Ontario: FIPPA and MFIPPA requests can be made on the provincial form or by letter. The application fee is $5.
BC: FIPPA accepts written requests. There is no application fee for a person's own personal information; public bodies may charge $10 for general-records requests.
Alberta: under the Access to Information Act (which replaced FOIP in June 2025), requests are made in writing. An initial fee of $25 may apply to general requests; there is no fee for a person's own personal information.
Quebec: CAI forms are available online.
Describing the records
Be specific. Include date ranges, relevant officials, program names, and any case or file numbers. The more specific your request, the faster the search.
After you file
Response times: Ontario FIPPA 45 business days (requests from July 1, 2026), BC and Alberta 30 business days, Quebec and most other provinces 30 days.
Extensions may be granted for large requests, but must be justified.
Most statutes allow a fee waiver where payment would cause hardship or the request is in the public interest.
Appealing a refusal
Each province has its own appeal process. In Ontario, FIPPA/MFIPPA appeals go to the IPC. In BC, the OIPC. In Alberta, the OIPC AB. Appeal windows are short: 30 business days in Ontario (since July 1, 2026) and BC, 60 business days in Alberta, and 30 days in Quebec.