Information rights

4   (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an applicant who makes a request under section 5 has a right of access to a record in the custody or under the control of a public body, including a record containing personal information about the applicant.

(2) The right of access to a record does not extend to information that is excepted from disclosure under Division 2 of this Part, but if that information can reasonably be severed from a record, an applicant has a right of access to the remainder of the record.

(3) The right of access to a record is subject to the payment of fees, if any, required under section 75.

How to make a request

5   (1) To obtain access to a record, the applicant must make a written request that

(a) provides enough detail to enable an experienced employee of the public body, with a reasonable effort, to identify the record sought,

(b) provides written proof of the authority of the applicant to make the request, if the applicant is acting on behalf of another person in accordance with the regulations, and

(c) is submitted to the public body that the applicant believes has custody or control of the record.

(2) The applicant may ask for a copy of the record or ask to examine the record.

Duty to assist applicants

6   (1) The head of a public body must make every reasonable effort to assist applicants and to respond without delay to each applicant openly, accurately and completely.

(2) Moreover, the head of a public body must create for an applicant a record to which section 4 gives a right of access if

(a) the record can be created from a machine readable record in the custody or under the control of the public body using its normal computer hardware and software and technical expertise, and

(b) creating the record would not unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public body.

Time limit for responding

7   (1) Subject to this section and sections 23 and 24 (1), the head of a public body must respond not later than 30 days after receiving a request described in section 5 (1).

(2) The head of the public body is not required to comply with subsection (1) if

(a) the time limit is extended under section 10, or

(b) the request has been transferred under section 11 to another public body.

(3) If the head of a public body asks the commissioner under section 43 for authorization to disregard a request, the 30 days referred to in subsection (1) do not include the period from the start of the day the application is made under section 43 to the end of the day a decision is made by the commissioner with respect to that application.

(4) If the head of a public body determines that an applicant is to pay fees under section 75 (1) (a) or (b), the 30 days referred to in subsection (1) of this section do not include the period of time from that determination until one of the following occurs:

(a) the head of the public body excuses the applicant from paying all of the fees for services;

(b) the head of the public body excuses the applicant from paying some of the fees for services and the applicant agrees to pay the remainder and, if required by the head of the public body, pays the deposit required;

(c) the applicant agrees to pay the fees for services set out in the written estimate and, if required by the head of the public body, pays the deposit required;

(d) the applicant pays the application fee.

(5) If an applicant asks the commissioner under section 52 (1) to review a fee estimate or a refusal to excuse the payment of all or part of a fee required by the head of the public body, the 30 days referred to in subsection (1) do not include the period from the start of the day the applicant asks for the review to the end of the day the commissioner makes a decision.

(6) If a third party asks under section 52 (2) that the commissioner review a decision of the head of a public body, the 30 days referred to in subsection (1) do not include the period from the start of the day the written request for review is delivered to the commissioner to the end of the day the commissioner makes a decision with respect to the review requested.

(7) If a person asks under section 62 (2) for a review of a decision of the commissioner as head of a public body, the 30 days referred to in subsection (1) do not include the period from the start of the day the request for review is delivered to the minister responsible for this Act to the end of the day the adjudicator makes a decision with respect to the review requested.

Contents of response

8   (1) In a response under section 7, the head of the public body must tell the applicant

(a) whether or not the applicant is entitled to access to the record or to part of the record,

(b) if the applicant is entitled to access, where, when and how access will be given, and

(c) if access to the record or to part of the record is refused,

(i) the reasons for the refusal and the provision of this Act on which the refusal is based,

(ii) the contact information of an officer or employee of the public body who can answer the applicant's questions about the refusal, and

(iii) that the applicant may ask for a review under section 53 or 63.

(2) Despite subsection (1) (c) (i), the head of a public body may refuse in a response to confirm or deny the existence of

(a) a record containing information described in section 15 [information harmful to law enforcement], or

(b) a record containing personal information of a third party if disclosure of the existence of the information would be an unreasonable invasion of that party's personal privacy.

How access will be given

9   (1) If an applicant is told under section 8 (1) that access will be given, the head of the public body must comply with subsection (2), (2.1) or (3) of this section.

(2) If the applicant has asked for a copy under section 5 (2) and the record can reasonably be reproduced, a copy of the record or part of the record must be provided with the response.

(2.1) If the applicant has asked for a copy under section 5 (2) in electronic form and it is reasonable to provide the record in that form, a copy of the record or part of the record must be provided in that form with the response.

(3) If the applicant has asked to examine the record under section 5 (2) or if the record cannot be provided in accordance with subsection (2) or (2.1) of this section, as applicable, the applicant must

(a) be permitted to examine the record or part of the record if the record or part of the record can reasonably be examined, or

(b) be given access in accordance with the regulations.

Extending the time limit for responding

10   (1) The head of a public body may extend the time for responding to a request for up to 30 days if one or more of the following apply:

(a) the applicant does not give enough detail to enable the public body to identify a requested record;

(b) a large number of records are requested or must be searched and meeting the time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public body;

(c) more time is needed to consult with a third party or other public body before the head can decide whether or not to give the applicant access to a requested record;

(d) the applicant has consented, in the prescribed manner, to the extension.

(2) In addition to the authority under subsection (1), with the permission of the commissioner, the head of a public body may extend the time for responding to a request as follows:

(a) if one or more of the circumstances described in subsection (1) (a) to (d) apply, for a period of longer than the 30 days permitted under that subsection;

(b) if the commissioner otherwise considers that it is fair and reasonable to do so, as the commissioner considers appropriate.

(3) If the time for responding to a request is extended under this section, the head of the public body must tell the applicant

(a) the reason for the extension,

(b) when a response can be expected, and

(c) in the case of an extension under subsection (1) (a) to (c), that the applicant may complain about the extension under section 42 (2) (b) or 60 (1) (a).

Transferring a request

11   (1) Within 20 days after a request for access to a record is received by a public body, the head of the public body may transfer the request and, if necessary, the record to another public body if

(a) the head of the public body is satisfied that the request meets the requirements of section 5 (1), and

(b) one or more of the following applies:

(i) the record was produced by or for the other public body;

(ii) the other public body was the first to obtain the record;

(iii) the record is in the custody or under the control of the other public body.

(2) If a request is transferred under subsection (1), the head of the public body who transferred the request must notify the applicant of the transfer.

(3) If the head of the public body to which a request is transferred under subsection (1) is satisfied that the request meets the requirements of section 5 (1) (a) and (b), the head of the public body must respond to the applicant

(a) in accordance with section 8, and

(b) not later than 30 days after the request is received by that public body, unless this time limit is extended under section 10.

Cabinet and local public body confidences

12   (1) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose to an applicant information that would reveal the substance of deliberations of the Executive Council or any of its committees, including any advice, recommendations, policy considerations or draft legislation or regulations submitted or prepared for submission to the Executive Council or any of its committees.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to

(a) information in a record that has been in existence for 15 or more years,

(b) information in a record of a decision made by the Executive Council or any of its committees on an appeal under an Act, or

(c) information in a record the purpose of which is to present background explanations or analysis to the Executive Council or any of its committees for its consideration in making a decision if

(i) the decision has been made public,

(ii) the decision has been implemented, or

(iii) 5 or more years have passed since the decision was made or considered.

(3) The head of a local public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information that would reveal

(a) a draft of a resolution, bylaw or other legal instrument by which the local public body acts or a draft of a private Bill, or

(b) the substance of deliberations of a meeting of its elected officials or of its governing body or a committee of its governing body, if an Act or a regulation under this Act authorizes the holding of that meeting in the absence of the public.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if

(a) the draft of the resolution, bylaw, other legal instrument or private Bill or the subject matter of the deliberations has been considered in a meeting open to the public, or

(b) the information referred to in that subsection is in a record that has been in existence for 15 or more years.

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council by regulation may designate a committee for the purposes of this section.

(6) A committee may be designated under subsection (5) only if

(a) the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that

(i) the deliberations of the committee relate to the deliberations of the Executive Council, and

(ii) the committee exercises functions of the Executive Council, and

(b) at least 1/3 of the members of the committee are members of the Executive Council.

(7) In subsections (1) and (2), "committee" includes a committee designated under subsection (5).

Policy advice or recommendations

13   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information that would reveal advice or recommendations developed by or for a public body or a minister.

(2) The head of a public body must not refuse to disclose under subsection (1)

(a) any factual material,

(b) a public opinion poll,

(c) a statistical survey,

(d) an appraisal,

(e) an economic forecast,

(f) an environmental impact statement or similar information,

(g) a final report or final audit on the performance or efficiency of a public body or on any of its policies or its programs or activities,

(h) a consumer test report or a report of a test carried out on a product to test equipment of the public body,

(i) a feasibility or technical study, including a cost estimate, relating to a policy or project of the public body,

(j) a report on the results of field research undertaken before a policy proposal is formulated,

(k) a report of a task force, committee, council or similar body that has been established to consider any matter and make reports or recommendations to a public body,

(l) a plan or proposal to establish a new program or activity or to change a program or activity, if the plan or proposal has been approved or rejected by the head of the public body,

(m) information that the head of the public body has cited publicly as the basis for making a decision or formulating a policy, or

(n) a decision, including reasons, that is made in the exercise of a discretionary power or an adjudicative function and that affects the rights of the applicant.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to information in a record that has been in existence for 10 or more years.

Legal advice

14   The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information that is subject to solicitor client privilege.

Disclosure harmful to law enforcement

15   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose information to an applicant if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to

(a) harm a law enforcement matter,

(b) prejudice the defence of Canada or of any foreign state allied to or associated with Canada or harm the detection, prevention or suppression of espionage, sabotage or terrorism,

(c) harm the effectiveness of investigative techniques and procedures currently used, or likely to be used, in law enforcement,

(d) reveal the identity of a confidential source of law enforcement information,

(e) reveal criminal intelligence that has a reasonable connection with the detection, prevention or suppression of organized criminal activities or of serious and repetitive criminal activities,

(f) endanger the life or physical safety of a law enforcement officer or any other person,

(g) reveal any information relating to or used in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion,

(h) deprive a person of the right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication,

(i) reveal a record that has been confiscated from a person by a peace officer in accordance with an enactment,

(j) facilitate the escape from custody of a person who is under lawful detention,

(k) facilitate the commission of an offence under an enactment of British Columbia or Canada, or

(l) harm the security of any property or system, including a building, a vehicle, a computer system or a communications system.

(2) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose information to an applicant if the information

(a) is in a law enforcement record and the disclosure would be an offence under an Act of Parliament,

(b) is in a law enforcement record and the disclosure could reasonably be expected to expose to civil liability the author of the record or a person who has been quoted or paraphrased in the record, or

(c) is about the history, supervision or release of a person who is in custody or under supervision and the disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the proper custody or supervision of that person.

(3) The head of a public body must not refuse to disclose under this section

(a) a report prepared in the course of routine inspections by an agency that is authorized to enforce compliance with an Act,

(b) a report, including statistical analysis, on the degree of success achieved in a law enforcement program or activity unless disclosure of the report could reasonably be expected to interfere with or harm any of the matters referred to in subsection (1) or (2), or

(c) statistical information on decisions under the Crown Counsel Act to approve or not to approve prosecutions.

(4) The head of a public body must not refuse, after a police investigation is completed, to disclose under this section the reasons for a decision not to prosecute

(a) to a person who knew of and was significantly interested in the investigation, including a victim or a relative or friend of a victim, or

(b) to any other member of the public, if the fact of the investigation was made public.

Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations or negotiations

16   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose information to an applicant if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to

(a) harm the conduct by the government of British Columbia of relations between that government and any of the following or their agencies:

(i) the government of Canada or a province of Canada;

(ii) the council of a municipality or the board of a regional district;

(iii) an Indigenous governing entity;

(iv) the government of a foreign state;

(v) an international organization of states,

(b) reveal information received in confidence from a government, council or organization listed in paragraph (a) or their agencies, or

(c) harm the conduct of negotiations relating to Indigenous self-government or treaties.

(2) Moreover, the head of a public body must not disclose information referred to in subsection (1) without the consent of

(a) the Attorney General, for law enforcement information, or

(b) the Executive Council, for any other type of information.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to information that is in a record that has been in existence for 15 or more years unless the information is

(a) law enforcement information, or

(b) information referred to in subsection (1) (a) (iii) or (c).

Disclosure harmful to the financial or economic interests of a public body

17   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to harm the financial or economic interests of a public body or the government of British Columbia or the ability of that government to manage the economy, including the following information:

(a) trade secrets of a public body or the government of British Columbia;

(b) financial, commercial, scientific or technical information that belongs to a public body or to the government of British Columbia and that has, or is reasonably likely to have, monetary value;

(c) plans that relate to the management of personnel of or the administration of a public body and that have not yet been implemented or made public;

(d) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to result in the premature disclosure of a proposal or project or in undue financial loss or gain to a third party;

(e) information about negotiations carried on by or for a public body or the government of British Columbia;

(f) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to harm the negotiating position of a public body or the government of British Columbia.

(2) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose under subsection (1) research information if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to deprive the researcher of priority of publication.

(3) The head of a public body must not refuse to disclose under subsection (1) the results of product or environmental testing carried out by or for that public body, unless the testing was done

(a) for a fee as a service to a person, a group of persons or an organization other than the public body, or

(b) for the purpose of developing methods of testing.

Disclosure harmful to the conservation of heritage sites, etc.

18   The head of a public body may refuse to disclose information to an applicant if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in damage to, or interfere with the conservation of,

(a) fossil sites, natural sites or sites that have an anthropological or heritage value,

(b) an endangered, threatened or vulnerable species, subspecies or race of plants, vertebrates or invertebrates, or

(c) any other rare or endangered living resources.

Disclosure harmful to interests of an Indigenous people

18.1   (1) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose information if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the rights of an Indigenous people to maintain, control, protect or develop any of the following with respect to the Indigenous people:

(a) cultural heritage;

(b) traditional knowledge;

(c) traditional cultural expressions;

(d) manifestations of sciences, technologies or cultures.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Indigenous people has consented in writing to the disclosure.

Disclosure harmful to individual or public safety

19   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information, including personal information about the applicant, if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to

(a) threaten anyone else's safety or mental or physical health, or

(b) interfere with public safety.

(2) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant personal information about the applicant if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in immediate and grave harm to the applicant's safety or mental or physical health.

Information that will be published or released within 60 days

20   (1) The head of a public body may refuse to disclose to an applicant information

(a) [Repealed 2011-17-6.]

(b) that, within 60 days after the applicant's request is received, is to be published or released to the public, or

(c) that must be published or released to the public under an enactment.

(2) The head of a public body must notify an applicant of the publication or release of information that the head has refused to disclose under subsection (1).

(3) If the information referred to in subsection (1) (b) is not published or released to the public within 60 days after the applicant's request is received, the head of the public body must disclose the information to the applicant on, or within 30 days of, that date unless the head of the public body is authorized or required to refuse to disclose the information under other sections of this Division.

Disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party

21   (1) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose to an applicant information

(a) that would reveal

(i) trade secrets of a third party, or

(ii) commercial, financial, labour relations, scientific or technical information of or about a third party,

(b) that is supplied, implicitly or explicitly, in confidence, and

(c) the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to

(i) harm significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the negotiating position of the third party,

(ii) result in similar information no longer being supplied to the public body when it is in the public interest that similar information continue to be supplied,

(iii) result in undue financial loss or gain to any person or organization, or

(iv) reveal information supplied to, or the report of, an arbitrator, mediator, labour relations officer or other person or body appointed to resolve or inquire into a labour relations dispute.

(2) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose to an applicant information that was obtained on a tax return or gathered for the purpose of determining tax liability or collecting a tax.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if

(a) the third party consents to the disclosure, or

(b) the information is in a record that is in the custody or under the control of the digital archives or museum archives of government or the archives of a public body and that has been in existence for 50 or more years.

Disclosure harmful to personal privacy

22   (1) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose personal information to an applicant if the disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy.

(2) In determining under subsection (1) or (3) whether a disclosure of personal information constitutes an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy, the head of a public body must consider all the relevant circumstances, including whether

(a) the disclosure is desirable for the purpose of subjecting the activities of the government of British Columbia or a public body to public scrutiny,

(b) the disclosure is likely to promote public health and safety or to promote the protection of the environment,

(c) the personal information is relevant to a fair determination of the applicant's rights,

(d) the disclosure will assist in researching or validating the claims, disputes or grievances of Indigenous peoples,

(e) the third party will be exposed unfairly to financial or other harm,

(f) the personal information has been supplied in confidence,

(g) the personal information is likely to be inaccurate or unreliable,

(h) the disclosure may unfairly damage the reputation of any person referred to in the record requested by the applicant, and

(i) the information is about a deceased person and, if so, whether the length of time the person has been deceased indicates the disclosure is not an unreasonable invasion of the deceased person's personal privacy.

(3) A disclosure of personal information is presumed to be an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy if

(a) the personal information relates to a medical, psychiatric or psychological history, diagnosis, condition, treatment or evaluation,

(b) the personal information was compiled and is identifiable as part of an investigation into a possible violation of law, except to the extent that disclosure is necessary to prosecute the violation or to continue the investigation,

(c) the personal information relates to eligibility for income assistance or social service benefits or to the determination of benefit levels,

(d) the personal information relates to employment, occupational or educational history,

(e) the personal information was obtained on a tax return or gathered for the purpose of collecting a tax,

(f) the personal information describes the third party's finances, income, assets, liabilities, net worth, bank balances, financial history or activities, or creditworthiness,

(g) the personal information consists of personal recommendations or evaluations, character references or personnel evaluations about the third party,

(h) the disclosure would reveal

(i) the identity of a third party who supplied, in confidence, a personal recommendation or evaluation, character reference or personnel evaluation, or

(ii) the content of a personal recommendation or evaluation, character reference or personnel evaluation supplied, in confidence, by a third party, if the applicant could reasonably be expected to know the identity of the third party,

(i) the personal information indicates the third party's racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or religious or political beliefs or associations, or

(j) the personal information consists of the third party's name, address, or telephone number and is to be used for mailing lists or solicitations by telephone or other means.

(4) A disclosure of personal information is not an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy if

(a) the third party has, in writing, consented to or requested the disclosure,

(b) there are compelling circumstances affecting anyone's health or safety and notice of disclosure is mailed to the last known address of the third party,

(c) an enactment of British Columbia or Canada authorizes the disclosure,

(d) the disclosure is for a research or statistical purpose and is in accordance with section 33 (3) (h),

(e) the information is about the third party's position, functions or remuneration as an officer, employee or member of a public body or as a member of a minister's staff,

(f) the disclosure reveals financial and other details of a contract to supply goods or services to a public body,

(g) public access to the information is provided under the Financial Information Act,

(h) the information is about expenses incurred by the third party while travelling at the expense of a public body,

(i) the disclosure, in respect of

(i) a licence, a permit or any other similar discretionary benefit, or

(ii) a degree, a diploma or a certificate,

reveals any of the following with respect to the applicable item in subparagraph (i) or (ii):

(iii) the name of the third party to whom the item applies;

(iv) what the item grants or confers on the third party or authorizes the third party to do;

(v) the status of the item;

(vi) the date the item was conferred or granted;

(vii) the period of time the item is valid;

(viii) the date the item expires, or

(j) the disclosure, in respect of a discretionary benefit of a financial nature granted to a third party by a public body, not including personal information referred to in subsection (3) (c), reveals any of the following with respect to the benefit:

(i) the name of the third party to whom the benefit applies;

(ii) what the benefit grants to the third party;

(iii) the date the benefit was granted;

(iv) the period of time the benefit is valid;

(v) the date the benefit ceases.

(5) On refusing, under this section, to disclose personal information supplied in confidence about an applicant, the head of the public body must give the applicant a summary of the information unless

(a) the summary cannot be prepared without disclosing the identity of a third party who supplied the personal information, or

(b) with respect to subsection (3) (h), either paragraph (a) of this subsection applies or the applicant could reasonably be expected to know the identity of the third party who supplied the personal recommendation or evaluation, character reference or personnel evaluation.

(6) The head of the public body may allow the third party to prepare the summary of personal information under subsection (5).

Disclosure of information relating to abortion services

22.1   (1) In this section, "abortion services" means lawful medical services for the termination of a pregnancy.

(2) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose to an applicant information that relates to the provision of abortion services.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to the following:

(a) information about abortion services that were received by the applicant;

(b) statistical information, including financial information, relating to the total number of abortion services provided throughout

(i) British Columbia, or

(ii) a region that is designated under section 4 (1) (b) of the Health Authorities Act if more than one health care body provides abortion services in that region;

(c) information about a public body's policies on the provision of abortion services.

(4) Nothing in this section prevents any other provision of this Act from applying if a request is made under section 5 by an applicant for access to a record containing information about abortion services that were received by the applicant.

Notifying the third party

23   (1) If the head of a public body intends to give access to a record that the head has reason to believe contains information that might be excepted from disclosure under section 18.1, 21 or 22, the head must give the third party a written notice under subsection (3).

(2) If the head of a public body does not intend to give access to a record that contains information excepted from disclosure under section 18.1, 21 or 22, the head may give the third party a written notice under subsection (3).

(3) The notice must

(a) state that a request has been made by an applicant for access to a record containing information the disclosure of which may affect the interests or invade the personal privacy of the third party,

(b) describe the contents of the record, and

(c) state that, within 20 days after the notice is given, the third party may, in writing, consent to the disclosure or may make written representations to the public body explaining why the information should not be disclosed.

(4) When notice is given under subsection (1), the head of the public body must also give the applicant a notice stating that

(a) the record requested by the applicant contains information the disclosure of which may affect the interests or invade the personal privacy of a third party,

(b) the third party is being given an opportunity to make representations concerning disclosure, and

(c) a decision will be made within 30 days about whether or not to give the applicant access to the record.

Time limit and notice of decision

24   (1) Within 30 days after notice is given under section 23 (1) or (2), the head of the public body must decide whether or not to give access to the record or to part of the record, but no decision may be made before the earlier of

(a) 21 days after the day notice is given, or

(b) the day a response is received from the third party.

(2) On reaching a decision under subsection (1), the head of the public body must give written notice of the decision to

(a) the applicant, and

(b) the third party.

(3) If the head of the public body decides to give access to the record or to part of the record, the notice must state that the applicant will be given access unless the third party asks for a review under section 53 or 63 within 20 days after the day notice is given under subsection (2).

Information must be disclosed if in the public interest

25   (1) Whether or not a request for access is made, the head of a public body must, without delay, disclose to the public, to an affected group of people or to an applicant, information

(a) about a risk of significant harm to the environment or to the health or safety of the public or a group of people, or

(b) the disclosure of which is, for any other reason, clearly in the public interest.

(2) Subsection (1) applies despite any other provision of this Act.

(3) Before disclosing information under subsection (1), the head of a public body must, if practicable, notify

(a) any third party to whom the information relates, and

(b) the commissioner.

(4) If it is not practicable to comply with subsection (3), the head of the public body must mail a notice of disclosure in the prescribed form

(a) to the last known address of the third party, and

(b) to the commissioner.