The Access to Information Act gives Canadian citizens and persons present in Canada the right to access information in federal government records. The Privacy Act provides citizens with the right to access personal information about themselves held by the government and the protection of that information against unauthorized use and disclosure.
The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Directorate, part of the Executive Secretariat in the Corporate Services and Strategic Policy Branch, administers the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts and associated regulations, policies and procedures for Public Works and Government Services Canada.