Access and Privacy at the City of Lacombe

The City of Lacombe is committed to transparent governance while safeguarding residents' personal information. Two key provincial statutes guide our practices: the Protection of Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act. These Acts aim to strike a balance between the public's right to know information and protecting confidential information required to ensure effective operations of government and public bodies.

What is the Protection of Privacy Act?

The Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)  came into force on June 11, 2025, and replaced the privacy provisions of the former Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. It establishes clear rules for how municipalities and other public bodies must collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal information in their custody or control.

Your Rights Under POPA

POPA permits the use of your personal information by a public body. For example, in a municipality, property owners' names and mailing addresses are collected to operate the municipality, including compiling the tax assessment roll. This information may be used for other purposes related to the operation of a municipality, such as providing services and utilities. Under POPA, public bodies can create non-personal data for research, analysis, or the planning, delivery, or evaluation of a program or service. Common uses include analysis to identify trends (e.g., how many people from different demographics are using a service) or to improve the services provided.

What is the Access to Information Act?

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) also came into effect on June 11, 2025, replacing the access provisions of the FOIP Act. It grants you the legal right to request records in the custody or control of any Alberta public body, subject to limited and specific exemptions. This Act is in addition to and does not replace existing procedures for access to information or records.

Citizens are encouraged to check with the City of Lacombe before submitting an ATI request to see if the information is already publicly available. Many types of information can be accessed without an ATI request, such as publications, brochures, forms, and reports, information about programs and services offered by the municipality, and records that are made available through other legislation or programs (e.g., certificates, licenses, etc.).

Making an Access Request

  • Submit your request by completing the Access to Information Request Form (PDF) and submitting it to the ATI Coordinator.  
    • If you're requesting records other than your own personal information, a non-refundable $25 application fee applies. Please call the City at 403-782-6666 to pay over the phone with a credit card, by mailing a cheque addressed to the City of Lacombe, or by coming to City Hall in person.
  • We'll respond within 30 business days with possible time extensions
  • Certain exceptions under ATIA provide public bodies with the authority to refuse access to specific types of information. These exceptions are in place to balance the public's right of access with the need to protect personal privacy, security, and confidential matters. 
  • You can submit an ATI request on behalf of someone else, provided you have their written consent or legal authorization to do so. The City will ask for proof of authorization before processing these types of requests

If you disagree with how we handled your request—whether due to refusal, fee assessment or delay—you may ask the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta to review our decision. 

Need Assistance?

For help with either Act—whether you wish to submit a request, seek a correction, or file a complaint—please contact our Privacy Officer or our ATI Coordinator.