Freedom of Information

As a public body, the Municipality of East Hants is subject to the Government of Nova Scotia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The Municipal Government Act – which provides authority for most of the activities and operations of municipal government in Nova Scotia – also contains provisions relating to FOIPOP in Part XX.

These pieces of legislation ensure that the Municipality is transparent and accountable, while protecting individual privacy rights and personal information.

Everyone has a right of access to most recorded information held by the Municipality, but certain exemptions do apply.

Foremost, citizens have the right of protection of the privacy of personal information in the custody or under the control of the Municipality (which includes such things as: your name, address, telephone number, etc.).

Additionally, legislation prohibits the FOIPOP Administrator from disclosing:

• Information that could reasonably be expected to harm inter-municipal or intergovernmental relations or reveal information provided by other municipalities or governments in confidence, unless there is consent
• Information that could reasonably be expected to harm the financial and economic interests of the municipality or another municipality or the Province
• Information related to certain labour relations mediation or conciliation proceedings
• Information subject to solicitor-client privilege
• Others personal information
• Information that could significantly harm a third parties business interests
• Information that could harm law enforcement; and
• Information that could harm the economic or financial interests of a public body, other individuals, or the public

Citizens have a right of access to their own personal records under the control of the Municipality, including their own personal information and the right to update or correct this personal information.

Please contact the Chief Administrative Office for more information on how to access information at info@easthants.ca.

When making a formal Freedom of Information request, please follow these steps:

• Make the request in writing through the FOIPOP Application available below
• Specify the information requested
• Be accompanied by the $5 application fee

When making a request, please try to be as specific as possible about the information you are seeking in order to avoid delays in processing.

The cost of a Freedom of Information request is $5.

Depending upon the nature of the request, additional charges may apply. If the request requires additional fees, an estimate will be provided to the applicant who must either pay the charges in advance or make an application for the charges to be waived.

If a fee estimate has been provided, the 30 day timeline stops until the fee structure has been agreed upon.

Fees are not charged for the applicants own information. 

A notice of receipt will be provided when the Municipality receives your request from the Privacy Officer.

There are three types of responses you might get from the Municipality once a decision has been made about the request:

• Access in full: you are getting everything that you have requested
• Access in part: some of the information requested will be provided
• Withheld in full: none of the information requested will be disclosed

Responses are normally provided within 30 days of receipt of the request.

If access to your request is denied or you disagree with the response provided, you have the right to contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nova Scotia (1-888-243-1564) to request a review of the Municipality’s decision. You must request this review within 60 days of the Municipality’s decisions. There is no charge for the review.