Access to information and protection of personal information
Act respecting access
The Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (R.S.Q., c. A-2.1), also referred to as the Act respecting access, has two main objectives :
- guarantee all persons access to documents held by public bodies where permitted by law ;
- ensure confidentiality of personal information held by public bodies, guarantee all persons access to their own personal information, require rectification of personal information, if necessary.
Like all Québec public bodies, the Office is subject to the Act respecting access.
Documents targeted by the Act respecting access
The Act respecting access applies to all documents in the Office's possession in the exercise of its duties, regardless of their form. The Office is not obliged to create a new document (e.g. a statistical report or summary document) in response to a request.
Since certain documents of a public nature can be accessed without restriction, it is not necessary to obtain them under the Act respecting access (e.g. publications that have already been released and judiciarized statements of offence).
Obligations of the person responsible for access
The person responsible for access must ensure access to the Office's documents at an opportune moment and ensure that personal information is divulged only to persons legally authorized to obtain it.
The person responsible for access must reply promptly-no later than 20 days after receiving a request-giving access to the document or information requested or explaining why the document or information is not accessible. Right to access is subject to certain restrictions.
If need be, a 10-day extension can be applied to request processing.
Applying for access
To be admissible, a request for access to a document or information must be specific enough to allow the document or information to be located.
The application must be forwarded to the person responsible for access at the following address by mail, fax or e-mail :
Yolande Côté
Responsable de l'accès aux documents
et de la protection des renseignements personnels
Office de la protection du consommateur
Secrétariat général
400, boulevard Jean-Lesage, bureau 450
Québec (Québec) G1K 8W4
Email: acces@opc.gouv.qc.ca
Fax: 418 528-2844
Telephone: 418 643-1484 extension 2213
Although a request can be made verbally, only a decision made with regard to a request made in writing can be reviewed by the Commission d'accès à l'information.
Fees may be charged for document reproduction.
Consulting a document on Office premises
Documents held by the Office may be consulted during office hours. However, an appointment is necessary since they are not all kept on the Office's main premises.
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