Fees as per the ATIA Regulations
Personal Access Request - No Initial Fee
14(1) This section applies to a request for access to a record that contains the personal information of the applicant.
(2) Only fees for producing a copy of a record in accordance with items 3 to 6 of Schedule 1 may be charged by a public body and only if the amount of the fees, as estimated by the public body responsible for responding to the request, exceeds $10.
(3) Where the amount of the fees estimated by the public body exceeds $10, the amount determined in accordance with Schedule 1 is to be charged by the public body.
General Access Request - Initial Fee $25
13(1) This section applies to a request for access to a record that does not contain personal information of the applicant.
(2) An applicant is required to pay
(a) an initial fee of $25 when a non-continuing request is made, or
(b) an initial fee of $50 when a continuing request is made.
(3) An applicant must pay the initial fee before a public body begins processing the applicant’s request.
(4) In addition to the initial fee, fees in accordance with Schedule 1 may be charged if the amount of the fees, as estimated by the public body responsible for responding to the request, exceeds
$150.
(5) Where the amount of the fees estimated by the public body exceeds $150, the amount determined in accordance with Schedule 1 is to be charged by the public body.
(6) A fee may not be charged for the time spent in reviewing a record.
Fee Estimates & Payments
15(1) An estimate provided under section 96(3) of the Act must set out, as applicable,
(a) the time and cost to search for, locate and retrieve a record,
(b) the cost of converting a record into a redactable format,
(c) the cost of reformatting audiovisual files into a redactable format,
(d) the cost to produce a copy of the record,
(e) the time and cost for preparing and handling the record for disclosure,
(f) the time and cost to supervise an applicant who wishes to examine the original record, and
(g) the cost of shipping the record or a copy of the record.
(2) An estimate for access to a record of the personal information of the applicant must only include the cost of producing a copy of the record in accordance with section 14(2).
(3) In the case of a continuing request, the estimate is to include the total fees payable over the course of the continuing request.
(4) An applicant has up to 30 business days to accept the fee estimate or to modify the request to change the amount of fees assessed.
16(1) Processing of a request ceases once a notice of estimate has been forwarded to the applicant by the public body responsible for responding to the request and recommences immediately on the receipt by the public body of an agreement by the applicant to pay the fee and
(a) at least 50% of any estimated fee that exceeds $150, and
(b) in the case of a continuing request if the estimated fee for the entire request exceeds $150, at least 50% of the portion of the estimate applicable to the delivery of the first instalment of the request
(2) Processing of a subsequent instalment of a continuing request may be commenced by a public body only on the receipt of at least 50% of the portion of the estimate applicable to the delivery of that instalment.
(3) The balance of any fee owing is payable at the time the information is delivered to the applicant.
(4) Fees, other than an initial fee, or any part of those fees will be refunded if the amount paid is higher than the actual fees required to be paid.
Access to Information Act: Schedule 1 - Fees Schedule
The amounts of the fees set out in this Schedule are the maximum amounts that can be charged to applicants.
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1
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For searching for, locating and retrieving a record
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$6.75 per 1/4 hr.
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2
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For converting or reformating records:
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(a) Converting a record into a redactable format
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$0.25 per page
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(b) Reformatting audiovisual files into redactable format
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$6.75 per 1/4 hr
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3
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For producing a paper copy of a record:
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(a) photocopies and computer
printouts:
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(i) black and white up to
81/2”x14”
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$0.25 per page
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(ii) other formats
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$0.50 per page
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(b) from microfiche or microfilm
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$0.50 per page
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(c) plans and blueprints
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Actual cost to public body
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4
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For producing a copy of a record by duplication of the following media:
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(a) microfiche and microfilm
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Actual cost to public body
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(b) computer disks
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$5.00 per disk
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(c) computer tapes
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Actual cost to public body
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(d) slides
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$2.00 per slide
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(e) audio and video tapes
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Actual cost to public body
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5
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For producing a photographic copy (colour or black and white) printed on photographic paper from a negative, slide or digital image:
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(a) 4”x6”
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$3.00
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(b )5” x 7”
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$6.00
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(c) 8” x 10”
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$10.00
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(d) 11” x 14”
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$20.00
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(e) 16” x 20”
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$30.00
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6
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For producing a copy of a record by any process or in any medium or format not listed in sections 2 to 5 above
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Actual cost to public body
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7
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For preparing and handling a record for disclosure
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$6.75 per 1/4 hr.
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8
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For supervising the examination of a record
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$6.75 per 1/4 hr.
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9
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For shipping a record or a copy of a record
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Actual cost to public body
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Fee Waivers
An Applicant may request a fee waiver that may excuse an applicant from paying all or part of a fee. To request a fee waiver, the Applicant must submit the request along with rationale and justification.
A request for fee waiver can be made only the following categories:
a. Financial hardship
b. Fairness
c. Public Interest
Further information about the categories and criteria for consideration can be found here: FOIP Bulletin #2 - Fee Waivers