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 - 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.