The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), SBC 1992 c.61 became law on October 4, 1993. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, along with other public bodies, came under the FIPPA effective October 1994.
As the name suggests, the FIPPA has two main purposes:
Freedom of Information – to make public bodies more open and accountable by providing the public with a legislated right of access to records in the custody or control of public bodies, and
Protection of Privacy – to protect your right to personal privacy by prohibiting the unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of your personal information by public bodies.
FIPPA covers all provincial governmental public bodies, including ministries and most government agencies, boards, commissions and Crown corporations. FIPPA also covers what is referred to as local public bodies such as municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards, hospitals, health boards, as well as the British Columbia College of Teachers, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Law Society of British Columbia.