News

As of June 25, 2025, Alberta has officially transitioned from the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act to two new pieces of legislation:

• The Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)
• The Access to Information Act (ATIA)

These changes aim to modernize Alberta’s approach to privacy and information access, aligning the province with national and global standards.

To support this transition, the Government of Alberta has provided resources, including training materials and direct access to ministry contacts. You can find more details on the Alberta.ca resource page: [POPA Resources | Alberta.ca]

 

Training Now Available

To help the public understand these new laws, the Government of Alberta has developed online training courses. We encourage all members and partners to access the following:

• POPA Course
• ATIA Course

These modules are designed to explain the core changes and responsibilities introduced by the new legislation.

 

Key Features of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)

The POPA introduces stronger privacy protections and aims to improve public bodies’ ability to deliver services and programs. Some of the major updates include:

• Public bodies cannot sell personal information in any circumstance or for any purpose, including marketing and advertising.
• Public bodies must notify Albertans if their information is used in an automated system to generate content or make decisions, recommendations, or predictions.
• Albertans must be notified about a privacy breach where there is a real risk of significant harm.
• Privacy Impact Assessments and a privacy management program are mandatory for Alberta public bodies.

 

Highlights of the Access to Information Act (ATIA)

The ATIA enhances access to information rights to align Alberta's practices with global best practices. The main principles of the ATIA are:

• Any person has a right to access records in the custody or under the control of a public body.
• Individuals have a right to access personal information about themselves.
• Provision of independent reviews of decisions made by public bodies and complaint resolutions are enabled.

 

Learn More

We encourage our members and partners to stay informed as these changes take effect. You can read more about both acts here:

• Protection of Privacy Act
• Access to Information Act