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On March 26, 2026, the Ontario government introduced Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2026, which includes amendments to MFIPPA. The bill received Royal Assent on April 24, 2026.
Several changes to MFIPPA will come into effect on July 1, 2026. To learn more about these changes, please click here.
One of the key changes taking effect on July 1, 2026, is an extension of the legislated response time for Freedom of Information requests. The deadline for institutions to respond to requests will increase from 30 calendar days to 45 business days.
Please note that any Freedom of Information request received after 4:30 p.m. on June 30, 2026, will be subject to the new 45 business-day response timeline.
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) gives individuals the right to request access to records held by the City, including most general records and records containing their own personal information. The Act also establishes rules for how the City collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information.
You may submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and pay the application fee by completing the online FOI Request Form linked below.
This service applies to records within the City of Peterborough boundaries. Before submitting, please confirm that the address, location, or incident is within the City of Peterborough.
If you have any questions, please contact the Freedom of Information Coordinator at (705) 742-7777, ext. 1797.
Alternatively, you may mail the completed form along with a $5.00 cheque, payable to the City of Peterborough, to:
Freedom of Information Coordinator
City Clerk’s Office, City Hall
500 George Street North
Peterborough, ON K9H 3R9
We begin processing your request once it is received by our office. Requests are considered received on business days only. Requests submitted after business hours, on weekends, or on statutory holidays will be considered received on the next business day.
The City has up to 45 business days to issue a response, unless an extension is issued under the legislation. If an extension is required, you will be notified in writing.
Note: For records held by the Peterborough Police Service, please visit the Peterborough Police Service Freedom of Information webpage.
For records held by Lakelands Public Health (formerly Peterborough Public Health), please visit the Lakelands Public Health website.
Not all records require a formal Freedom of Information request. Some records are publicly available, while others can be requested directly from the appropriate City department.
The following records are available to the public:
Many reports and other City records are publicly available. Please search our website or contact the responsible department first to determine whether the information can be obtained without submitting a formal request.
Other Records and Information Requests
The following records and services have their own request processes and do not require an FOI request:
Additional fees may apply under Section 45 of MFIPPA if a request requires significant staff time to process or results in a large volume of records.
If a request is complex or involves a large number of records, a fee estimate will be provided when the anticipated cost exceeds $100. For fees of less than $100, payment is required before the records can be released.
Fees can be paid by credit card over the phone by calling the FOI Coordinator at (705) 742-7777, ext. 1797, in person at the Clerk’s Office at City Hall, or by cheque made payable to the City of Peterborough and mailed to:
FOI Coordinator
City of Peterborough
500 George Street North
Peterborough, ON K9H 3R9
Fees for Freedom of Information Requests
| Detail | Fee | Description |
| Application fee | $5 | The application fee is mandatory and must be paid when application is submitted |
| Search time | $7.50 for each 15 minutes | If required to search for records |
| Photocopying | $0.20 for each page | Requestor's copy only |
| Computer programming | $15 for each 15 minutes | If there is a need to develop a program to retrieve the information |
| Preparing records | $7.50 for each 15 minutes | If required to sever, or to prepare records for release |
| USB drive | $10 each | When records are too large to be provided electronically |
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Freedom of Information requests.
How long will it take to process my request?
We will begin processing your Freedom of Information request once we receive a completed request form and the required $5.00 application fee.
We will respond within 45 business days, unless additional time is required due to the volume of records, the complexity of the search, or the need to consult with another organization or third party. If a time extension is necessary, we will notify you.
We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate time-sensitive requests whenever possible. However, we cannot guarantee a response before the 45-business-day response period.
How much does a Freedom of Information request cost?
A non-refundable $5.00 application fee is required for all Freedom of Information requests.
Additional fees may apply depending on the scope of the request and the work required to process it. These fees are established under Section 45 of MFIPPA.
How many property addresses can I include in one request?
To help us process requests efficiently, please submit one Freedom of Information request per property address.
If you are requesting records for multiple properties, a separate request form and application fee are required for each address.
What can I do if I disagree with the decision on my FOI request?
If you disagree with the decision made on your request, you may appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) within 30 business days of receiving the decision.
The appeal fee is $10 for requests involving personal information and $25 for requests involving general information. Fees are payable directly to the IPC.
For information on how to file an appeal, visit the IPC’s website.
Protecting your privacy is important to the City of Peterborough.
The collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by the City is governed by MFIPPA. The City collects and uses personal information only as authorized by law.
If you have questions about the protection of your privacy, please contact us.
If you believe the City of Peterborough has improperly collected, used, or disclosed your personal information, you have the right to file a privacy complaint.
We encourage you to contact the City Clerk's Office first, as many concerns can be addressed directly with City staff.
You may also file a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). For information about the complaint process and to access the IPC's Privacy Complaint Form, please visit the IPC's website.
Contact Us
City Hall
500 George St. N.
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3R9
Phone: 705-742-7777
Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755
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