Explainer: How to submit an FOI to the provincial government or a public body in B.C.

Unfortunately in British Columbia, submitting a Freedom of Information request to a public body isn’t a unified process.

There isn’t a website in existence that allows users to simply select their desired public body, submit their request, and pay any required fees.

In fact, the process of submitting an FOI in B.C. differs depending on the public body.

For example, the provincial government and a handful of municipalities and regional districts, have online forms that can be filled out and submitted within minutes. Other public bodies, as is often the case with municipalities, require you to download a form, often a PDF, fill it out and e-mail it to them.

To make the process easier, below is a list that outlines how to submit an FOI to the provincial government, every single municipality on Vancouver Island and a few other public bodies such as Island Health and BC Ferries.

RELATED: What is an FOI request and how do you make one?

Since late 2021, the provincial government, municipalities, regional districts and other public bodies are allowed to charge fees for every FOI request they receive. Application fees will be mentioned if and when it is known that the municipality or public body is charging them.

Furthermore, a handful of smaller municipalities do not specify how to submit an FOI request, though all municipalities will generally accept requests mailed directly to them. In cases where direct e-mails are required, it is best to include not only your name but address and at the very least a contact e-mail or phone number. For members of the media, the process may be slightly more streamlined, depending on the public body, as some will accept requests directly by e-mail.

Municipalities and regional districts are listed after the B.C. government entry and are ordered by geographical area beginning with Greater Victoria, Nanaimo/Oceanside area, Cowichan Valley, Comox Valley, Port Alberni and Tofino area, and Campbell River and North Island. Other public bodies such as police departments, Island Health and BC Ferries are listed at the bottom of the page.

Please report any broken links, changes to the way a public body accepts FOI’s, or if a public body listed below is now charging a fee, to tips@cheknews.ca. To search quickly on a computer, press CTRL + F.

B.C. government (including all its ministries)

To submit an FOI request to the B.C. government, you must visit https://foirequestform.gov.bc.ca/getting-started1.

You will be asked whether the information you’re seeking is general information about government business or personal, either about yourself or someone else.

Although the province will allow you to seek information from its various ministries and departments, the Legislature itself cannot be FOI’d because it does not fall under FIPPA and therefore information pertaining to it cannot be requested.

Lastly, as mentioned above, the B.C. government charges a $10 fee per submission. Payments can, fortunately, be made online using a credit card.

Municipalities and Regional Districts

Capital Regional District

The Capital Regional District is one of the few public bodies that lets you submit FOI requests directly on their website.

To send an FOI request to the CRD click here.

An overview of the regional district’s FOI submission process can be found here.

City of Victoria

You can submit an FOI to the City of Victoria by e-mailing them at foi@victoria.ca.

The City of Victoria also provides some open data on its website, which can be accessed at https://opendata.victoria.ca/search?collection=Dataset.

An overview of the City of Victoria’s submission process can be found here.

City of Langford

You can submit an FOI to the City of Langford by sending an e-mail to FOI@langford.ca.

City of Colwood

In order to submit an FOI to the City of Colwood, individuals are asked to e-mail a completed Request for Access to Records form to corporateservices@colwood.ca.

To access the form, click here.

District of Saanich

You can submit a Freedom of Information request to the District of Saanich by completing a PDF form and e-mailing it to foi@saanich.ca. You can also e-mailing your request without completing the form directly to foi@saanich.ca.

The District of Saanich charges non-commercial applicants $7.50 per quarter hour after the first three hours for locating, retrieving and preparing records.

To view and download the FOI request form, click here. For information on fees, click here.

District of Highlands

To submit a Freedom of Information request to the District of Highlands, one must complete a PDF form and either e-mail it or mail it to their corporate officer (currently mmiles@highlands.ca).

The FOI request form can be accessed here. A staff contact list, which includes the corporate officer, can be viewed by clicking here.

District of Metchosin

FOI requests can be made to the District of Metchosin by completing a PDF form and e-mailing it to their chief administrative officer/FOI head.

To access the form, click here.

A list of District of Metchosin staff members complete with contact information can be found by clicking here.

District of Oak Bay

To submit an FOI request to the District of Oak Bay, you can simply e-mail your request to foi@oakbay.ca.

Alternatively, you can download and complete a PDF form, which can then be e-mailed to the District of Oak Bay.

To view and download the form, click here.

District of Central Saanich

To submit a Freedom of Information request to the District of Central Saanich, individuals are asked to e-mail a completed Request to Access For Records form to municipalhall@csaanich.ca.

The form can be accessed by clicking here.

District of North Saanich

Freedom of Information requests can be made to the District of North Saanich by completing a PDF form and e-mailing it to foi@northsaanich.ca.

Alternatively, individuals can just e-mail their request to foi@northsaanich.ca without completing a form.

To view the FOI request form, click here.

District of Sooke

In order to submit an FOI request to the District of Sooke, you are required to complete a PDF form and e-mail it to info@sooke.ca.

To access the FOI request form, click here.

Further information about the District of Sooke’s FOI process can be found by clicking here.

Town of View Royal

To submit a Freedom of Information request to the Town of View Royal, individuals must fill out and sign a records request form, which can be accessed here, and then e-mail it to info@viewroyal.ca.

View Royal record request form appears to require a handwritten signature, unlike some municipalities which will accept a typed digital signature.

More information on the Town of View Royal’s FOI submission process can be viewed here.

Town of Sidney

The Town of Sidney requires users to complete an FOI request form which can then be e-mailed to admin@sidney.ca.

To view or download the form, click here.

According to the Town of Sidney’s website, individuals should reach out to the appropriate department before submitting an FOI, as some “routine information may be released upon a verbal request” by town staff.

Township of Esquimalt

FOI submissions to the Township of Esquimalt can be made by completing a PDF form and e-mailing it to corporate.services@esquimalt.ca or dropping it off at Municipal Hall, located at 1229 Esquimalt Rd.

The submission form can be accessed by clicking here.

There is a $10 non-refundable application fee. Esquimalt requires the fee to be paid prior to the request being processed. Also, the legislated timeline to the Township to respond to a request will not start until the application fee has been paid.

To view the Township of Esquimalt’s page on Freedom of Information requests, click here.

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Regional District of Nanaimo

You can submit an FOI request to the Regional District of Nanaimo by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to inquiries@rdn.bc.ca. Requests can also be submitted without a form directly to inquiries@rdn.bc.ca.

To view the form, click here.

City of Nanaimo

One of the easiest and most simplified processes of any municipality on Vancouver Island, FOI requests to the City of Nanaimo can be submitted by completing an online submission form. There is no requirement for a signature or need to download any documents and submission can be made within minutes.

You can view the submission form here.

City of Parksville

Freedom of Information requests to the City of Parksville can be e-mailed to the manager of administrative services and corporate officer (currently aweeks@parksville.ca).

District of Lantzville

In order to submit a Freedom of Information request to the District of Lantzville, you are required to download and complete a Request for Access to Records form, which can then be e-mailed to district@lantzville.ca.

To view the form, click here.

Town of Qualicum Beach

To submit an FOI to the Town of Qualicum Beach, you can fill Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to the town’s corporate officer (currently hsvensen@qualicumbeach.com).

To access the form, click here.

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Cowichan Valley Regional District

You can submit an FOI request to the Cowichan Valley Regional District by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to legislativeservices@cvrd.bc.ca.

You can access the form by clicking here.

City of Duncan

To submit an FOI request to the City of Duncan, you must complete their Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to duncan@duncan.ca.

To view the form, click here.

Municipality of North Cowichan

To submit a Freedom of Information request to the Municipality of North Cowichan, you can download and complete their Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to foi@northcowichan.ca. Alternatively, requests can be submitted by e-mailing foi@northcowichan.ca without a form.

To access the form, click here.

Town of Ladysmith

You can submit an FOI request to the Town of Ladysmith by completing a Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to foi@ladysmith.ca.

To access the form, click here.

Town of Lake Cowichan

You can submit an FOI request to the Town of Lake Cowichan by e-mailing general@lakecowichan.ca. E-mailed requests must include your name, address and telephone number, according to the town’s website.

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Comox Valley Regional District

You can submit a Freedom of Information request to the Comox Valley Regional District by completing their online FOI request form.

The online form can be accessed by clicking here.

To view the CVRD’s Freedom of Information request overview page, click here.

City of Courtenay

There is no known Request for Access to Records PDF form available for the City of Courtenay. Instead, it is possible to submit a Freedom of Information request to the city by e-mailing its corporate officer or info@courtenay.ca.

Town of Comox

Just like the City of Courtenay, there is no known Request for Access to Records PDF form available for the Town of Comox and there is very limited information about the town’s process is available online. However, FOIs can be submitted by e-mailing the Town of Comox’s corporate officer or town@comox.ca.

The Town of Comox’s staff list can be found here.

Village of Cumberland

Village of Cumberland is no different than Comox and Courtenay, as there is no known Request for Access to Records PDF form available. There is also very little information about the submission process on the municipality’s website. That said, FOI’s can be submitted to the Village of Cumberland’s corporate officer (currently rparker@cumberland.ca).

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Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

You can submit a Freedom of Information request to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District by completing a PDF form and e-mailing it to their FOI head (currently wthomson@acrd.bc.ca).

To access the form, click here.

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City of Port Alberni

To submit a Freedom of Information request to the City of Port Alberni, you can complete their Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to twyla_slonski@portalberni.ca.

To access the form, click here.

District of Tofino

FOI’s can be submitted to the District of Tofino by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to either office@tofino.ca or the director of corporate services (currently nbest@tofino.ca)

To access the form, click here.

District of Ucluelet

There is no mention of Freedom of Information requests or how they can be submitted anywhere on the District of Ucluelet’s website.

Therefore, it is best to submit requests to info@ucluelet.ca or mail them to the municipal office (PO BOX 999 Ucluelet, B.C. V0R 3A0).

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Strathcona Regional District

To submit an FOI to the Strathcona Regional District you can complete their Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to administration@srd.ca.

The SRD charges $25 per application, except when the individual is requesting their own personal information. However, the SRD may issue a full or partial refund depending on the time it takes for them to complete the request.

Payment can be made by cash, cheque, credit or debit card and cost estimates are available upon request. There does not, however, appear to be an option to pay online.

The form can be accessed by clicking here.

A full overview of the Strathcona Regional District’s FOI process can be found here.

City of Campbell River

You can submit an FOI request to the City of Campbell River by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to front.reception@campbellriver.ca.

To view and download the form, click here.

Village of Gold River

Requests can be e-mailed to info@goldriver.ca.

Village of Sayward

To submit an FOI to the Village of Sayward, you can either mail your request in written form to the municipal office (652-A H’Kusam Way PO Box 29, Sayward, B.C. V0P 1R0).

You can also send your request to their chief administrative officer, who is the designated FOI head, by e-mailing cao@saywardvalley.ca.

Village of Tahsis

FOI submissions to the Village of Tahsis can be mailed to their municipal office (977 South Maquinna Dr. Tahsis, B.C. V0P 1X0).

It may be possible for requests to be e-mailed to info@villageoftahsis.com. However, there is no specific mention about whether FOI requests can be submitted directly by e-mail.

Village of Zeballos

FOI submissions can be mailed to the Village of Zeballos (PO Box 127 157 Maquinna Ave., Zeballos, B.C. V0P 2A0). It may also be possible to submit a request by e-mailing it to reception@zeballos.com or cao@zeballos.com.

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Regional District of Mount Waddington

FOI submissions can be mailed to the Regional District of Mount Waddington (Box 729, Port McNeill, B.C. V0N 2R0). There is also a possibility that they can be e-mailed to info@rdmw.bc.ca.

District of Port Hardy

You can submit an FOI request to the District of Port Hardy by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mailing it to the director of corporate services (currently rblackwell@porthardy.ca) or general@porthardy.ca.

To view the form, click here.

Town of Port McNeill

FOI requests can be mailed to the Town of Port McNeill (Box 728 1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, B.C. V0N 2R0). It may also be possible to submit requests via e-mail to the chief administrative officer (currently pete@portmcneill.ca) or reception@portmcneill.ca.

Village of Port Alice

It is not specifically mentioned on the Village of Port Alice’s website but, as is the case with every municipality, submissions can be mailed to the municipal office (1061 Marine Dr., Port Alice, B.C. V0N 2N0) or e-mailed to info@portalice.ca.

The Village of Port Alice does have a PDF form available for download, which can be accessed here.

Public agencies/bodies

BC Ferries

BC Ferries provides an easy online FOI request form (which can be accessed here) that can be completed within minutes

Island Health

Freedom of Information requests that are not requested either your medical records or someone else’s medical records can be submitted by e-mail to foi@islandhealth.ca.

Victoria Police Department

You can submit an FOI request to the Victoria Police Department by completing their Request for Access to Records form and mailing it to their headquarters (850 Caledonia Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 5J8). However, for members of the media it is possible to simply e-mail requests to foi@vicpd.ca.

Saanich Police Department

You can submit an FOI request to the Saanich Police Department by completing their Request for Access to Records form and e-mail it to foi@saanichpolice.ca.

Vancouver Island University

FOI requests to VIU can be made by e-mailing FIPPA@viu.ca directly. However, the university strongly prefers individuals complete and submit a form that must be downloaded by visiting their website. Further information on VIU’s submission process can be found here.

If you have suggestions on how to improve this list, you may also email tips@cheknews.ca.

Greater Victoria School District (SD61)

FOI’s to the Greater Victoria School District can be submitted by e-mailing FOI@sd61.bc.ca. The school district is charging a $10 fee per application which must be paid by cheque, cash or money order and made payable to Greater Victoria School District #61 and sent to the Attention of Executive Assistant, Superintendent’s Office.

There is no online payment method available at the moment. To view SD61’s FOI page and for more information on the fee submission process, click here.

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