Freedom of Information
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) has been in effect since January 1st, 1991. This legislation regulates and controls the information that is made available to the public and provides for a formal procedure to request records. The Act not only provides rights to the public to gain access to Municipal records, but also protects the privacy of individuals.
There is a general right of access to municipal records under MFIPPA, however this right is subject to the application of exemptions that may apply to records.
Freedom of Information Requests
The Clerk's Office is responsible for handling MFIPPA requests, which are processed in accordance MFIPPA. Various municipal records are readily available on our website and do not require a formal Freedom of Information request. Examples of these records include Council and Committee Agendas and Minutes, Reports, By-Laws, and Policies.
To make a formal request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), submit a completed FOI Request Form to the Clerk's office at 274620 27th Line, Ingersoll, along with the $5.00 application fee. The application fee may be paid in cash or by cheque or Interac.
In addition to the $5.00 application fee, the Township of Zorra is permitted under MFIPPA to charge the following fees:
- $7.50 per 15 minutes of time spent searching for, retrieving and preparing a record for disclosure, including the time to sever any part of the record in accordance with the exemptions under the Act;
- $0.20 per page for photocopying and computer printouts.
Other fees may be charged depending on the nature of the request. The Clerk will inform you in advance of what these fees are in accordance with the Act. A full breakdown of fees is available on the Province of Ontario website.
As per the provisions of MFIPPA, the municipality has (30) calendar days (including weekends and statutory holidays) from the date a FOI request has been received with the applicable fee, to provide the information to the requester and/or a decision regarding the request. There are circumstances where the Clerk's Office may require an extension. If an extension is required, the Clerk will notify you in writing.