Apr 14, 2015

To help administrative tribunals comply with Manitoba’s privacy laws – The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) – Manitoba Ombudsman has developed Privacy Guidelines for Administrative Tribunals on the Online Publication of Decisions.

“Publishing decisions online can be an effective means for administrative tribunals to accomplish the goals of openness, transparency and accountability,” said Acting Manitoba Ombudsman Mel Holley. “Making decisions available online can help the public understand the work of the tribunal and how it deals with the cases before it.”

The guidelines address a number of considerations including:

• the need to consider relevant legislation and public interest
• the need for decision-writing policies
• minimizing, anonymizing or removing personal information
• notifying individuals about information-handling rules, and
• using technology to minimize privacy risks

The Manitoba government has established agencies, boards and commissions to carry out a range of functions and services, such as the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission, the Manitoba Labour Board, the Manitoba Municipal Board, the Securities Commission, and many others. Many of these specialized boards and commissions, also known as administrative tribunals, have started posting their decisions online or are considering doing so. As public bodies, administrative tribunals are subject to FIPPA and PHIA.

The guidelines will be distributed to participants at the annual conference of the Manitoba Council of Administrative Tribunals in Winnipeg on April 20, 2015. The guidelines are also available online at:

https://www.ombudsman.mb.ca/uploads/document/files/admin-tribunal-guidelines-en.pdf