OBA Charity and Not-For-Profit Law PROGRAM | Original Program Date: November 19, 2019

The ability for Canadians to submit access to information (“ATIP”) requests is an excellent symbol of our democracy in action. Such ATIP requests, however, do not allow carte blanche access to the records of public bodies and a careful balance must be struck between access to information and protection of private records from disclosure. Canadian charities and non-profits can get “caught” in this balancing of interests, often because directors, members and volunteers use their work email for their volunteer activities. In many cases the information which is caught by the ATIP request should remain private records and ought to be exempt from public disclosure. Since access to information legislation resides at all governmental levels, lawyers need to consider any restrictions on their ability to assist their clients in responding to such requests.

Our expert speakers will discuss the issues involving charity and not-for-profit organizations, provide practical experience responding to these requests, and tips on how to protect your clients. Counsel from LawPRO will provide guidance in respect of our role as Ontario-based lawyers advising clients across Canada in respect of ATIP requests. Don’t miss out on this key program.

PROGRAM CHAIRS

Kim Cunnington-Taylor, Law Office of Kimberley A. Cunnington-Taylor
Gwenyth S. Stadig, Miller Thomson LLP

PROGRAM SPEAKERS

David Fraser, McInnes Cooper
Mitch Koczerginski, McMillan LLP
Emily Sternberg, The Heart and Stroke Foundation
Juda Strawczynski, Director, PracticePRO