The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Phil Wall, has released his Report 2007-013 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to //www.oipc.gov.nl.ca/reports.htm

Report: 2007-013

Report Date: October 10, 2007

Public Body: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Summary: The Applicant applied under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the "ATIPPA") for access to records relating to the course preferences and the teaching assignments of faculty members at Memorial University of Newfoundland ("Memorial"). Memorial disclosed the teaching assignments to the Applicant but denied access to the course preferences. Memorial claimed that the course preferences contained the personal information of the faculty members, because they contained information that constituted both the employment history of the faculty members pursuant to section 2(o)(vii) of the ATIPPA and their personal views or opinions pursuant to section 2(o)(ix). The Commissioner found that the course preferences did not contain information that constituted the employment history of the faculty members. The Commissioner also found that the course preferences did contain the personal views or opinions of the faculty members but, because the views or opinions were given in the course of performing services for Memorial, section 30(2)(h) allowed the disclosure of the personal information. The Commissioner, therefore, recommended the disclosure of the course preferences to the Applicant.

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Media contact:
Sandy Hounsell
Assistant Commissioner
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
709-729-6309

2007 10 15                                                   4:20 p.m.