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Access to Information

The City of Medicine Hat is committed to upholding the public’s right to access information.

This commitment guides our decisions and shapes our interactions with the public. 

 

  

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On June 11, 2025, the Access to Information Act (ATIA) came into force and officially replaced the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act). All access to information requests (access requests) received on or after August 19, 2025, will be processed in accordance with ATIA.

 

 

 

Police and bylaw enforcement records

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) is a separate public body that processes their own access to information requests. If you wish to submit an access request for MHPS or bylaw records, please visit their website, call 403-529-8400 or email mhps@mhps.ca. 

Before you begin

We strive to provide clarity and transparency on City matters. Not all requests for information require a formal access request. The information you want may already be publicly available or routinely disclosed by the City of Medicine Hat.

  1. Available by request - many records are available without a formal request under ATIA. Review our contact page to reach the department that may have the information you are requesting. The City may set reasonable fees to cover the cost of providing the information if deemed necessary.
  2. Available online - many of our records are publicly available through the periodical and proactive release of information to Medicine Hat residents. Use the search box on this website to find the topic that interests you, or review published documents on these helpful pages:

Submit your request

Frequently asked questions

Types of requests

The Access to Information Act (AITA) provides access to records held by public bodies in Alberta. Under ATIA, there are two types of requests you can make to the City: personal and general.

  • Personal information requests allow you to access recorded information about yourself or a person you are authorized to act for. This can include your personal contact info, employment records (if you are a City employee), property tax history, etc. 
  • General information requests allow you to access recorded information under the custody and control of the City that is not about an identifiable person. This can include records about government operations, decisions, spending, policies, projects, etc. that are not already publicly available.

Fees

  • Personal information: There is no application fee for personal requests. Fees for processing a personal request are only charged if the cost of producing the records is more than $10 (approx. 40+ pages). If that estimate is above the $10, we will provide you with a fee estimate.
  • General information: If you are requesting access to records that are not your own personal information, an initial application fee of $25 is required.

Additional fees may apply if the access request includes an extensive search or yields a large volume of records. This fee estimate is communicated to the applicant and we can resume processing the records once 50% of the fee is paid. The required balance is communicated to the applicant and the records are released after the balance of fees is paid as advised in the actual cost communicated to the applicant.

Submit an Access to Information request

Before submitting your request, we recommend you review the Frequently Asked Questions listed below. Once you are ready to begin the application process, submit your request via the following links.

Submit an Access to Information request Request to correct personal information

If you are not able to submit your access request online, Access to Information requests may be submitted via mail, or dropped off in person to:

City of Medicine Hat
City Clerk’s Office, 3rd Floor City Hall
580 1 St SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8E6

Frequently asked questions

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) in Alberta aims to strike a balance between the public's right to know and protecting confidential information required to ensure effective operations of government and public bodies.

Summary of ATIA:

  • You have the right to request access to City and personal information.
  • You have the right to access your own information.
  • You have the right to request that the City correct your personal information.

Learn more about ATIA

Anyone can make a request for information under the Alberta Access to Information Act. 

ATIA allows anyone to formally request access to records held by the City of Medicine Hat that aren't already publicly available or routinely shared. The City understands that access to information is important for a strong democracy, and works hard to balance this right with the need to protect confidential information required to ensure effective operations of government.

Access to information may be subject to exceptions stipulated in ATIA. For instance, ATIA does not require a public body to:

  • Answer a question.
  • Create a new document or report for you.
  • Provide an opinion or analysis.

Where such exceptions are applicable, access will not be granted. Applicants will be notified where such exceptions are applicable.

ATIA allows the City 30 days to respond to your request. Depending on the nature of the request and volume of records, some requests may be subject to time extension under S.16 of the Act. Applicants will be notified of any extensions where applicable.

No, although sometimes understanding the purpose of your request can help the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator assist you in navigating the complexities of the City’s information management program.

Payments are made by cash at City Hall or by mailing a cheque to:

City Clerk
580 1 Street SE
Medicine Hat, AB
T1A 8E6 

There are some instances where fees can be reduced or waived entirely. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator can assist you in narrowing the scope of your request and provide other suggestions to reduce the costs.

ATIA states if, in the opinion of the head of the public body, it is in the public’s interest to release records relating to the environment, public health, or safety, the public body may excuse the applicant from paying all or part of a fee for services. If you believe your request for information is in the public interest, please raise this with the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator. 

We strive for excellence in public information access, transparency, and accountability.

If you are not satisfied with the service you have received in response to your ATI request, please contact the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator directly to discuss your concern. If the Access to Information Coordinator does not provide a satisfactory response, you can direct your inquiry to the ATIA Head at foip@medicinehat.ca.

You also have a right to ask for a review of the City's processing of your request with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

You can request a correction to your personal information at the City of Medicine Hat by submitting the Request to Correct Personal Information form.

Other information requests

Contact Us

City Clerk

580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 8E6
P: 403-529-8221
F: 403-529-8324
Email us

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