In December 2024, Alberta's government passed legislation to repeal the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and split it into two pieces of legislation:
- Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)
- Access to Information Act (ATIA)
These acts and their associated regulations came into force on June 11, 2025.
Through these Acts, East Central Catholic Schools is responsible to protect the individual privacy of its students and families, as well as provide the public access to information as required.
The purpose of POPA is to:
- Provide guidance to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by public bodies.
- Allow individuals the right to request corrections to their personal information held by a public body.
- Enable public bodies to data match and allow the creation, use and disclose of non-personal data and data derived from personal information.
- Require public bodies to protect personal information including when data matching, and creating, using, and disclosure of data derived from personal information and non-personal data.
- Allow for independent review of decisions made and resolutions of complaints made against public bodies.
POPA prohibits the selling of personal information in any circumstances or for any purpose, including for marketing or advertising.
Principles of the ATIA
- Any person has a right of access to the records in the custody or under the control of a public body subject to specific and limited exceptions.
- Allows individuals a right to access personal information about themselves, subject to specific and limited exceptions.
- Provides for independent reviews of decisions made by public bodies and resolution of complaints under the ATIA.
East Central Catholic Schools strives to provide as much information to its students, staff, parents and the public as possible. Most information is available either online, or through contacting our Central Office. Examples of information which is readily available to anyone interested includes our:
Audited Financial Statements, Budgets, Assurance Plans, Minutes from Board Meetings, and Survey results.
If you are unable to locate information you require, please contact our Central Office before making an official Access to Information (ATI) request.
However, should you not be able to acquire the information you request, and the explanation as to why does not meet your satisfaction, you may make a formal request for that information through the Access to Information Act. These requests can be made using the following form: Access to Information Request Form.
Access to Information request forms can be directed to the Division's Privacy Coordinator:
Mary Ann Threinen
Secretary-Treasurer/Privacy Coordinator
East Central Catholic Schools
Phone: 780-842-3992
maryann.threinen@ecacs16.ab.ca