Access to Information and Privacy Requests

 

The first step in making an Access to Information (ATI) or Privacy request is to determine the government institution holding the records. Requests submitted to Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) should pertain to information about the department, its programs and services, or records created by the department. Please refer to Info Source to find out what our department does and what information it holds.

For requests for information held by other government institutions, please refer to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat list of departmental Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators.

Any individual or corporation present in Canada can make a request under the Access to Information Act. Canadian citizens and permanent residents also have the right to make a request under the Access to Information Act from outside Canada, however proof that the requestor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be provided. An applicant who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident must be physically in Canada both at the time that the request is filed and at the time access is given.

Prior to submitting a request under the Access to Information Act, it may be beneficial to determine if the information that you are seeking is not already available through Proactive Disclosure or other government publications.

Requests should be as specific as possible to enable an effective search for the information you are requesting, and include sufficient detail to enable an experienced WD employee, with a reasonable effort, to identify the records being requested. Examples include, but are not limited to, program or project names, time periods, client identifiers,file names, report titles, locations (office or region/branch), or names of individuals.

If you are requesting personal information that does not concern you, the individual for whom you are requesting information must provide verifiable, written authorization that you are acting as their representative.

WD will treat all requests in accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, making every reasonable effort to assist the applicant, responding accurately, completely and in a timely manner. Only officials with a need to know will be involved in processing the request. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the entire process.

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Submitting a request online to Western Economic Diversification Canada

The Access to Information and Privacy Online Request Service offers convenient way to submit access to information or personal information requests.

This service enables individuals to make online requests for information under the control of Government of Canada institutions instead of having to print, scan and email or mail a form to the correct institution.

Submit request online

Mailing your request

 

Written requests may be submitted using the Access to Information Request Form or the Personal Information Request Form, or in a letter indicating the request is made in accordance with the either the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act, and describe the information you are seeking. All requests for information under the control of Western Economic Diversification should be mailed to:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Suite 1500, Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4H7

Please note that a $5 application fee applies to all requests made under the Access to Information Act. Payment can be made by cash, or cheque or money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. There is no fee for requests for your personal information under the Privacy Act.