Legislation

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) is the regulator of Alberta's access to information and privacy laws - Health Information Act (HIA), Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act(FOIP).

Health Information Act 

The Health Information Act (HIA), along with the Health Information Regulation outline expectations for the collection, use, disclosure, and security of health information. This legislation also provides individuals with the right to request access to health records and the right to request a correction or amendment to facts included in their health information.  

The purposes of the Health Information Act (HIA) are to:

• Establish strong and effective mechanisms to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to their health information and to protect the confidentiality of that information
• Enable health information to be shared and accessed, where appropriate, to provide health services and to manage the health system
• Prescribe rules for the collection, use and disclosure of health information, which are to be carried out in the most limited manner and with the highest degree of anonymity that is possible in the circumstances
• Provide individuals with a right of access to health information about themselves, subject to limited and specific exceptions as set out in this Act
• Provide individuals with a right to request correction or amendment of health information about themselves
• Establish strong and effective remedies for contraventions of this Act
• Provide for independent reviews of decisions made by custodians under this Act and the resolution of complaints under this Act

This act includes amendments to address the technical enhancements to provincial electronic health records, clarify disclosure rules and improve the government's capacity to monitor drug trends and enhance the privacy of Albertans' health information. Mandatory breach reporting and notification requirements were added in 2018.

Health Information Act 

The Health Information Act Guidelines and Practices Manual 

Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

The Personal Information Protection Act protects individual privacy by requiring (in most cases) private-sector organizations to obtain consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information and providing individuals with right of access to their own personal information.

Personal Information Protection Act

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)

Public bodies must comply with Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Public bodies include all provincial government departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. It also includes local public bodies such as municipalities, universities, school boards, and others.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Regulation and Code were enacted to ensure Albertans have access to safe and healthy workplaces. They set out the minimum requirements for Alberta work places. 

Occupational Health and Safety is responsible for enforcing the OHS Act, Regulation and Code through inspections, investigations, and prosecutions. 

OHS also provides education and resources, including an online resource portal.

Occupational Health and Safety

The Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act sets the legal requirements for a range of decision making supports for adults who require assistance or do not have the capacity to make personal and financial decisions for themselves.

Only health professionals designated by the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Regulation may perform capacity assessments.

Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act 

The Protection for Persons in Care Act addresses issues surrounding abuse of persons in care. Its purpose is to:

• Require the reporting of abuse, or believed abuse, involving clients in care
• Protect vulnerable adults in care
• Promote the prevention of abuse involving adult clients who receive publicly funded care or support services

Protection of Persons in Care Act

The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act provides authority for Child and Youth Services to provide services in support of children who are abused, neglected or otherwise in need of intervention.

Any person who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a child is in need of intervention must report the matter to a police officer or director under the Act.

Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act

The Public Health Act requires health practitioners who know or have a reason to believe that a person in their care is infected with a communicable disease prescribed in the regulations to notify a medical officer of health by the fastest means possible or within 48 hours, depending on the disease.

It also grants Public Health Inspectors the power to inspect public spaces and when necessary order that any dangerous conditions be repaired, removed, destroyed, or declared unfit.

Public Health Act