How to File a Request

BEFORE YOU BEGIN ↓

  • Using keywords, you can search summaries of previously released Government of Canada documents. If you find information of interest, you can request the previously released documents directly from your search results. Please note that fees are not required for such request and there are no deadlines for responding.
  • The Board’s GC InfoBase organizational data can be accessed here: GC InfoBase - Infographic for Copyright Board Canada
  • The Government of Canada is committed to open and transparent government, including making government information "open by default". However, not all information can be released. Some information needs to be withheld to protect other important democratic values, such as national security, or to protect the privacy of personal information. Sometimes, there are no records that respond to your request; or the records may not be under the control of the government institution receiving your request.

Depending on whether you are seeking government information or personal information, the steps may differ:

 

Access to Information Request
Access to Information Act

 Access to Private Information Request
Privacy Act
Record Types General records could be about anything the Board holds, such as briefing notes, contracts, internal communications, reports (or even sets of data) such as:
  • information about government spending
  • programs
  • policies
  • activities of the government

Note: If another government institution could you’re your desired records, your request may be transferred to that institution. Requests are not transferred if the records are under the control of provincial, territorial or municipal governments, or private institutions such as commercial banks and credit bureaus.

For assistance in identifying what you can request, please refer to the Board’s Info Source page for a description of records held or contact our ATIP Coordinator at cb.corporateservices-servicesministeriels.cda@cb-cda.gc.ca or 613-952-8621.

 Personal information about individuals administering programs & services including:
  • your own personal information
  • information about someone else with their consent or authorization
  • information on behalf of a deceased individual
  • historical information on an individual (such as war records)

Note: To obtain the personal information of another living person, you must provide their written consent authorizing you to receive their personal information. The consent must be signed and dated by the person giving the consent. Permission is not required to obtain the information of dependents who are under 18 years of age.

To obtain the personal information of a person deceased for more than 20 years, you must provide reasonable proof of death (for example, obituary notice, death certificate, or photograph of tombstone).

For assistance in identifying what you can request, please refer to the Board’s Info Source page for a description of records held or contact our ATIP Coordinator at cb.corporateservices-servicesministeriels.cda@cb-cda.gc.ca or 613-952-8621.
Who Can Make a Request? Any Canadian citizen, permanent resident or any person or corporation residing in Canada has the right to request access to records of government institutions that are subject to the Access to Information Act.

Any Canadian citizen, permanent resident or individual present in Canada has the right to access their personal information or request correction of the content of their personal information held by government institutions that are subject to the Privacy Act.

Foreign citizens who are not present in Canada cannot directly make a request for their personal information. They may provide their consent to an eligible individual who may request their personal information on their behalf, under the Access to Information Act.
How to Make a Request

Informal Requests
The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the formal request processes. To make an informal request, contact: The Copyright Board of Canada Secretariat, 56 Sparks Street, Suite 800, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9 / Telephone: 613-952-8621 / Fax: 613-952-8630 / cb.corporateservices-servicesministeriels.cda@cb-cda.gc.ca.

Online Requests
Click here to make a request online.

By Mail
Mail your completed Access to Information Request Form (Access to Information Act) along with any necessary documents (such as consent or the $5 application fee for a request under the Access to Information Act), to the following address:
Copyright Board Canada Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
56 Sparks Street, Suite 800
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9

Click here for an accessible HTLM version of the form.

Informal Requests
The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the formal request processes. To make an informal request, contact: The Copyright Board of Canada Secretariat, 56 Sparks Street, Suite 800, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9 / Telephone: 613-952-8621 / Fax: 613-952-8630 / cb.corporateservices-servicesministeriels.cda@cb-cda.gc.ca.

Online Requests
Click here to make a request online.

By Mail
Mail your completed Personal Information Request Form (Privacy Act) to the following address:
Copyright Board Canada Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
56 Sparks Street, Suite 800
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9

Click here for an accessible HTLM version of the form.
Fees

A request made under the Access to Information Act has a $5.00 application fee. No other fees are charged.

Online
$5.00 via credit card on a secure website (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express are accepted. Payment cannot be made through debit or prepaid credit cards).

By Mail
$5.00 cheque or money order made payable to the Copyright Board of Canada. Cash not accepted.

There are no fees for most personal information requests made under the Privacy Act.

Access to personal information of individuals deceased 20 years or more is granted under the Access to Information Act and requires a $5.00 application fee.
ATIP Coordinator

Copyright Board of Canada
Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Coordinator
56 Sparks Street, Suite 800
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9
Tel: 613-952-8621
cb.corporateservices-servicesministeriels.cda@cb-cda.gc.ca

A complete list of ATIP Coordinators per GC institution can be accessed here: List of access to information and privacy coordinators by institution (canada.ca).

Once You Have Submitted Your Request…

  • The Copyright Board will respond to within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt, either by providing records or explaining why more time is needed (for example: large requests and/or requests requiring consultations, translation or alternative formats).
  • If your request is incomplete, requires clarification, or requires additional time for processing, our ATIP Coordinator will contact you directly.
  • If you are not satisfied with how your access to information request is processed or with the records you receive, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada.
  • If you are not satisfied with how your personal information request is processed, with the information you receive or with how your personal information has been handled or protected, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Helpful Links

Our Commitment

In processing requests made under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act, the staff of the Copyright Board will:

  1. Process all requests without regard to the identity of the requester.
  2. Offer reasonable assistance throughout the request process.
  3. Provide information on the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, including information on the processing of requests and the requester's right to complain to the Information Commissioner of Canada or the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
  4. Inform requesters as appropriate and without undue delay when the request needs to be clarified.
  5. Make every reasonable effort to locate and retrieve the requested records under the control of the Copyright Board.
  6. Apply limited and specific exemptions to the requested records.
  7. Provide accurate and complete responses.
  8. Provide timely access to the requested information.
  9. Provide records in the format and official language requested, as appropriate.
  10. Provide an appropriate location within the Copyright Board's office for requesters who choose to examine the requested records.