Report released following review of Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Recommendations focus on improving access to information, strengthening privacy protections and modernizing right-to-information operations

Release

Department of Finance and Treasury Board

June 18, 2026

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A report following a review of the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act includes recommendations to improve access to information, strengthen privacy protections and modernize right-to-information operations.

“We are grateful for the feedback we received throughout the review,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy. “We asked New Brunswickers how we can make this system better, and what they told us will be carefully considered as we work to improve transparency and safeguard New Brunswickers’ privacy.”

The report has been submitted to the legislative assembly and posted online.

Recommendations focus on three main areas:

  • strengthening transparency and accountability
  • enhancing privacy safeguards
  • improving right-to-information operations

The review determined that New Brunswickers want more timely and meaningful access to information. It also found that public bodies face challenges in responding to requests because of limited capacity, training needs, records management issues, the complexity of some requests and the growing volume of digital records.

The act gives people the right to request records held by public bodies while setting out rules on how personal information must be collected, used, disclosed and protected. One of the review’s key objectives is to strengthen New Brunswick’s right to information legislation so that it ranks among the best in Canada. The target is to achieve a score of 100 out of 150 in the Canadian right to information law rating. Currently, only one province – Newfoundland and Labrador – has surpassed this benchmark.

The government plans to table legislation next spring as part of its commitment to ensure more public access to information. The recommendations outlined in the review will help inform proposed changes.

18-06-26

Related links

Report on review of Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Related topics

Your government

Media Contact(s)

Alycia Bartlett, communications, Department of Finance and Treasury Board, [email protected].