Access to Information

Step 1: complete the Access or Correction Request Form

Alternatively, you may wish to:

• Download or print the PDF version of this form, or
• Submit a letter stating your request is being made under the Municipal Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act and describe the following:
  • the records you are seeking; and
  • your preferred contact information.

Note: Access requests can’t provide answers to questions. They can only provide you with existing information that may answer your question.

Step 2: pay your $5 application fee

You must pay a non-refundable $5 application fee. Cash and debit payments can be made in person and cheques/money orders payable to the Region of Durham. For e-Transfers, send your payment to payments@durham.ca and include: “Access Request [your full name]” in the message field. 

Step 3: submit your request

Submit your completed form or letter to the Access and Privacy Office by email to foi@durham.ca, by fax to (905) 668-9963, by mail or in person drop-off to:

The Regional Municipality of Durham
Access and Privacy Office
Legislative Services Division
605 Rossland Road East, Level 1, P.O. Box 623
Whitby, ON L1N 6A3

All access requests are subject to the following notice of collection:

Personal information is collected and will be used for the purpose of responding to your request pursuant to section 17 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Corporate Privacy Officer at foi@durham.ca or (905) 668-7711 ext. 2204.

We do not process requests for Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), such as police or motor vehicle accident reports. Visit the Access Request page on drps.ca for details on how to access their information.

In addition to your $5 application fee, other fees may apply to your request. Review the fee schedule below for more information.

Fee Schedule

If your fee estimate is $100 or more, you may be required to pay a deposit equal to 50% of the estimate before further steps are taken to respond to your request. The Region is permitted to waive all or part of your fee in certain circumstances. To request a fee waiver, submit a detailed explanation in writing to the Access and Privacy Office.

The Region has 30 calendar days to respond to your request; however, in some cases the records may be difficult to retrieve, or discussions must be held with other parties. If an extension is required, the Access and Privacy Office will notify you in writing.

Anyone has the right to request access to regional records. There are no restrictions.

No; however, it is your choice to do so. 

An incomplete request is when the application fee is missing, or the request requires clarification. In these cases, the 30-day timeframe will not start until these issues have been resolved.

Regional records are any record of information however recorded, whether in printed form, on film, by electronic means or otherwise, that is managed by the Region of Durham.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) is an independent body that oversees the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Health Information Protection Act.

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) sets rules for the Region to follow when it comes to providing individuals the right to access or correct their personal information that municipalities collect, use, and share.

The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) sets rules for municipalities to follow when it comes to providing individuals the right to access or correct their personal health information that municipalities collect, use, and share.