Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Most City records are already public and free. For everything else, FOI is the formal path, and it's more approachable than it sounds.
Step 1 · Free
Council minutes, bylaws, budgets, reports, contracts, all online. Most asks end here.
Step 2 · Free or low-cost
Email or call the relevant department. Routine records often come back the same week without paperwork.
Step 3 · If needed
Written request to Nicole Brown. Free for personal records; fee estimate first for everything else.
Most things people ask about are already public:
If you can't find what you need, call City Hall at 250-365-7227. Staff often release records informally without an FOI request, especially for routine information.
Tip
An informal ask is faster
When informal release isn't possible, you can file a formal request under the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP) and the City's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Bylaw, Bylaw 1387.
Download the “Request for Access to Records” form from the City's Freedom of Information page, and submit by email, regular mail, or hand-delivery to Corporate Services at City Hall. The contact for FOI requests is Nicole Brown, Manager of Legislative Services (nbrown@castlegar.ca, 250-365-8953).
A complete request includes:
Provincial law (FIPPA) sets the standard response window, with possible extensions for large or complex requests or where consultation with third parties is required. The City does not publish a specific in-house response deadline; see the BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for the statutory timeline.
Fees:
FOIPP allows the City to withhold or sever certain records, including:
When records are withheld or severed, the City must cite the specific section of FOIPP it relied on, and you have the right to appeal to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC.
FOIPP also governs how the City collects, uses, and protects your personal information. You have the right to know what information the City holds about you and to request corrections.
Still need help?
Faster than calling for non-urgent issues. We respond within one business day.
FOI requests are governed by the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the City's Bylaw 1387 (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy).