NLIS 1
April 14, 2005
(Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner)
Office open to the public
Phil Wall, Information and Privacy Commissioner
for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today that his office
is now fully operational and open to the public. The office is located on the
5th Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, St. John�s.
"I am very pleased to announce that this office is now available to the people
of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Mr. Wall. "This office is a cornerstone of
the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA) and will work
to ensure that all public organizations in this province protect the public�s
right to access to information and their right to privacy to the greatest extent
possible."
The access provisions of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
were proclaimed into force on January 17, 2005. The privacy provisions will be
proclaimed at a later date. The Information and Privacy Commissioner is
appointed as an independent officer of the House of Assembly and will act as the
oversight mechanism for this legislation. The commissioner has a broad range of
responsibilities and powers and may make recommendations to ensure compliance
with the access and privacy provisions of the ATIPPA and the Regulations. The
commissioner may also investigate complaints on the operation and administration
of the legislation.
Mr. Wall also announced that Sandy Hounsell has been appointed as the executive
director of the office. While the commissioner�s position is part-time, Mr.
Hounsell is a full-time employee and will be responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the office. Mr. Hounsell has extensive experience and knowledge in
the area of access and privacy in general and in this legislation in particular.
Completing the team is a full-time investigator and a full-time office
administrator.
The office may be contacted by calling (709) 729-6309 or toll-free at
1-877-729-6309, by faxing (709) 729-6500, or by e-mailing
oipc@gov.nl.ca. The mailing address is as
follows:
5th Floor, East Block
Confederation Building
P. O. Box 8700
St. John�s, NL A1B 4J6
You may also visit our Web site at
www.gov.nl.ca/oipc
Media contact: Sandy Hounsell, Executive Director, (709) 729-6309
2005 04 13
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