Useful Terms


Many terms that are used in FIPPA are defined in Section 1 of the act. Here are some of the most important ones:


Access and Privacy Coordinator: This is the person designated in each public body to receive FIPPA requests and handle the daily administration of FIPPA matters. The coordinator will tell you whether a formal request for access is necessary and explain the process. For the contact information of the access coordinator in each public body, see Where to send your request for access..

Local Public Bodies: These are public bodies, other than Manitoba government departments and agencies, that FIPPA applies to. They include the following:

  • University of Winnipeg
  • municipalities
  • municipal government districts
  • community councils
  • watershed districts
  • planning districts
    Educational bodies:
  • school divisions and districts
  • universities and community colleges
    health care bodies:
  • regional health authorities
  • hospitals
    For a complete list of all local public bodies that fall under FIPPA, see Where to Send Your Application.

Personal Health Information: This is recorded information about an identifiable individual that relates to that person's health, health care history, provision of health care to the individual or payment for health care. It includes identifying numbers or symbols assigned to the individual, such as their personal health information number, as well as identifying information about the individual that is collected while providing health care. Access to your own personal health information is governed by The Personal Health Information Act.


Personal Information: This is recorded information about an identifiable individual, such as name, home address and phone number, age, family status, ethnicity, income or sexual orientation. It also includes any identifying numbers or symbols assigned to an identifiable individual, such as a social insurance number. Information about corporations, businesses or organizations is not personal information. Oral comments about an individual that have not been recorded are not personal information.


Public Body: This is a Manitoba Government department, a government agency or a local public body. For more information, see Public Bodies Under FIPPA.


Record: This is information in any form, including information that is written, photographed, recorded or stored on any storage medium or by any means. Examples of records are:

  • minutes
  • letters
  • memos
  • reports
  • notes
  • blueprints
  • financial transaction records
  • photographs
  • audiovisual material
  • information stored and retrieved electronically
  • copies of documents, drafts and other working materials

Severing: This is the process of concealing information in a record that the public body has decided either cannot or should not be disclosed to a requester because it falls under an exception to access in FIPPA. The information that will not be released is blacked out and the section, subsection and clause number of the related exception (or exceptions) is also included. A copy of the record is then made for the requester to view.


Third Party: This is a person, group or organization that is not the one requesting access and is not a public body. Public bodies hold large quantities of information about individuals, groups, corporations and non-profit organizations which, if disclosed to others, might result in harm to them. FIPPA contains third party notice and intervention provisions to protect the personal information or business interests of third parties.