Bill 150: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

This bill primarily affects public bodies — government departments, municipalities, hospitals, universities, and other publicly funded organizations operating in Nova Scotia — rather than private businesses directly. However, private companies that contract with public bodies to provide services involving personal information (such as IT firms, data processors, healthcare service providers, or consultants) will be affected, particularly through new rules restricting the storage, disclosure, and offshore access of personal information. Businesses that supply commercial, financial, or technical information to public bodies in confidence can expect that information to remain protected from disclosure. Companies engaged in public-private partnerships should note that executed partnership agreements may be subject to broader disclosure obligations, and any third party whose information is held by a public body has rights to notice and representation if that information is subject to an access request.