Freedom of Information Requests

Freedom of Information Requests

The British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) provides individuals with the right to request access to records held by public bodies within the province. This legislation supports greater transparency, accountability, and trust in public institutions.

What is a Freedom of Information Request?

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request is a formal request submitted in writing by an individual or organization to obtain access to records held by a public body. FOI requests must be specific as to the records being sought and the relevant timeframe. FOI requests are not intended for general inquiries or questions.

There are two types of FOI requests:

  • Personal FOI requests: These requests are for records containing your own personal information held by a public body—such as your files (ie: employee record), correspondence, or information about a person you have legal authority to represent (ie: student record).

There are no fees for Personal FOI requests.

  • General FOI requests: These are requests for non‑personal information (ie: formal reports, audits) about district programs or activities.

General FOI requests require a $10 application fee and may incur additional processing fees.

What is a record?

Under FIPPA, a record includes any form of recorded information in the custody or under the control of a public body, whether written, digital or audiovisual.

A record can include: books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers, papers and any other thing on which information is recorded or stored by graphic, electronic, mechanical or other means.

However, FIPPA does not apply to:

How to submit a FOI request to the Delta School District:

To obtain access to a record, the applicant must make a written request and provide enough detail to enable an experienced employee of the public body, with a reasonable effort, to identify the record sought. When submitting a FOI request, please:

  • Be specific about the records you wish to obtain. Ensure the request is for records, not answers to questions.
  • Provide a date range for the records search and include information about the record holders or program areas, if known.
  • If requesting information on someone else’s behalf, include either (a) the individual’s signed consent, or (b) proof of your authority to act on their behalf, as required by section 5(1)(b) of FIPPA. To expedite processing, attach the signed authorization when submitting the request.

Complete the Freedom of Information Request Form and submit it either:

  • By Mail to:

Delta School District
Secretary Treasurer’s Office / FIPPA
4585 Harvest Dr
Delta BC  V4K 5B4

Fees for FOI Requests:

  • A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required for General FOI requests.
  • Additional service fees may apply for General FOI requests depending on the size and complexity of the request, as outlined in Section 75 of FIPPA. These fees cover the cost of locating, retrieving, copying, and mailing the records.
  • There are no fees associated with Personal FOI requests.

Payment methods:

Payment details will be provided after your FOI request is submitted.

Response Time:

Under FIPPA, the Delta School District must respond to FOI requests within 30 business days of receiving a valid request.

However, for more complex requests, additional time may be needed, as permitted under Section 10 of FIPPA. We will notify you in advance if delays are expected.

If any records cannot be fully disclosed, we will inform you of the specific exemptions under FIPPA that apply to your request.

Additional Information

For more information about the FOI process, please contact privacy@deltaschools.ca.