Access to Information and Privacy Unit

For the purposes of the Privacy Act, the Minister delegated her powers, authorities and responsibilities to the Director General, Corporate Services, who is the Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator for WD.  The Coordinator is accountable for the development, coordination and implementation of effective policies, guidelines, systems and procedures to ensure the Minister’s responsibilities under the Act are met and to enable appropriate processing and proper disclosure of information.  The Coordinator is also responsible for related policies, systems and procedures emanating from the Act.

Administration of the Privacy Act is a centralized function managed by the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Coordinator, with one full-time officer in the Corporate Administration unit in Headquarters to assist.  Additional support is provided by Regional ATIP Liaison Officers in WD offices in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Ottawa Liaison Office, as well as an ATIP consultant as required.

The activities of ATIP unit include:

• responding to consultations submitted by other federal institutions on WD documents under consideration for release;
• preparing statistical and annual reports to Parliament and other statutory reports, as well as other material that may be required by central agencies;
• developing and maintaining policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure the Act is respected by WD;
• promoting awareness of the Act within the Department to ensure responsiveness to the obligations imposed on the government; and
• monitoring departmental compliance with the Act, regulations and relevant procedures and policies.