The concept of openness is essential to the transparent functioning of an accountable local government.  However, it must be balanced with the privacy protection principles that are necessary to keep your personal information safe and secure.  For that reason, the County of Oxford is subject to two privacy laws that promote both the concept of open government as well as that of personal privacy.

• Personal Health Information Protection Act ("PHIPA") is the law that regulates personal health information held by Health Information Custodians in Ontario.  It may surprise you to learn that, before PHIPA was implemented by the Province in 2004, health records were not subject to any privacy law.  PHIPA establishes rules for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information that protect the privacy of individuals, but at the same time facilitate the provision of health care.
  Request to Access Personal Health Information

• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ("MFIPPA") is the law that provides a right of access to general information under the control of municipal institutions (with only limited and specific exemptions).  Its other main function is to protect your privacy by regulating the collection, use and disclosure of personal information held by municipal institutions and by providing you with a right of access to that information.
  Freedom of Information Request Form