Understanding your right to access information

The Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RTIPPA) allows you to request and access records from a public body. You also have the right to access your own personal information from a public body, and request corrections if there’s an error.

A public body is defined in RTIPPA. It refers to most public sector organizations in New Brunswick, such as:

• Government of New Brunswick departments, secretariats, and offices of the provincial civil service
• Schools, school districts, and District Education Councils
• Regional Health Authorities and other health care bodies
• Agencies, boards, commissions, and Crown corporations
• Universities and community colleges
• Municipalities, local service districts, regional service commissions and regional municipalities
• Municipal police forces
• Other local government boards and commissions.

You have the right to:

• Request and receive access to records from a New Brunswick public body, with some exceptions.
• Access records from a public body that contain personal information about yourself.
• Challenge a public body’s decision about your request for information. You can submit a complaint to the Ombud or refer a matter to the Court of King’s Bench, depending on the circumstances.

You have the right to access to your own personal information from a public body, and request corrections if there’s an error.