Municipal Information, Access & Privacy Forum

Agenda

• 8:30am - Welcome/Morning Moderator Introduction

  Welcoming Remarks:
  Kyle Pratt, MPA, CMM III, CHRL, CMO, Dipl.M.A.
  Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Tillsonburg
  AMCTO President 

  Morning Moderator:
  Kayla Thibeault, CMO, AOMC
  Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, Town of Gravenhurst
  Zone 5 Board Director

• 8:45am - Keynote Presentation: Freedom of Information, Elections, and Emerging Challenges

  This session will discuss the fundamental concepts of freedom of information (FOI) and some of the emerging challenges facing institutions in processing requests in a high-volume environment. As municipal elections across the province will be held on October 26, this session will also discuss how the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) interact, and how access professionals can support colleagues when the municipality receives requests for elections-related records. 

  What does the FOI landscape look like in 2026-2027 and beyond? How do you manage requests with evolving needs, broad-scope requests, generative AI in the submission of requests, and managing relationships with the Information & Privacy Commissioner? Join us to find out!

  Presented by:
  Gavin Nettlefold
  Manager, Access to Information, City of Toronto

  Rochelle Lunau 
  Senior Access & Privacy Officer, City of Toronto

• 9:50am - Recent Legislative Changes to MFIPPA: IPC Perspectives, Guidance and Practical Tips

  Join us to hear from staff at the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) of Ontario about recent legislative changes to MFIPPA. They will walk through these changes and discuss what trends the IPC's tribunal is seeing since the changes came into effect. Hear early insights on municipal best practices and preparedness for upcoming privacy changes, including the RROSH standard. The IPC team will also offer practical tips and tools, including web resources and guidance materials for you to take away immediately following the session.

  Presented by:
  Sandra Ferguson
  Director of Policy, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

  Valerie Silva
  Director, Expedited Team, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

• 11:00am - Cybersecurity Beyond IT: Is Your Municipality Prepared?

  Municipalities are navigating an increasingly complex landscape of cyber threats, privacy obligations, and regulatory change. This session will examine the implications of Bill 194, explore the evolving roles of clerks, FOI/privacy administrators, records managers, and IT professionals, and highlight key risks facing local governments. Participants will learn leading practices for cyber resilience, business continuity, and risk management, while considering how insurance and municipal preparedness are evolving. Most importantly, we'll ask a critical question: if a cyber incident occurred today, is your municipality ready?

  Presented by:
  Sean Duggan
  Senior Vice President, Special Risks & Claims, KRGinsure

• 12:00pm - Lunch Break
• 12:50pm - Afternoon Moderator Introduction

  Madison Zuppa, CMO, AOMC, Dipl.M.A.
  Deputy City Clerk, City of Sault Ste. Marie
  Zone 7 Board Director

• 12:55pm - Reducing FOI Request Volumes

  Responding to formal FOI requests can be labour-intensive. FOI requests are subject to detailed procedural requirements, limited flexibility, and strict statutory timelines. But not every request for information needs to be processed through the formal FOI system. The Publicly Available Information exemption under section 15 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), together with the Informal Access provisions in section 50 of MFIPPA, provide municipalities with important alternatives to formal FOI processing. Municipalities can make records available through other channels and in many cases avoid the formal FOI process altogether.

  This session will examine how municipalities can develop and use alternative methods of disclosure to reduce unnecessary reliance on the formal FOI process while continuing to provide the public with effective access to information.

  Presented by:
  Justin Petrillo
  President, FOI Assist Corporation

• 2:00pm - MFIPPA’s New Privacy Impact Assessment Requirements

  In this session, representatives from the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement will review recent legislative changes to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), including the requirements coming into force on January 1, 2027. We will highlight available resources and supports, discuss updates made in response to municipal input and engagement, and answer some frequently asked questions. There will also be an opportunity for you to provide input and ask further questions for clarification.

  Presented by:
  Ezra Houser
  Senior Manager, Privacy and Access Policy, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

  Madeleine Hass
  Senior Policy Analyst, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

• 2:55pm - The AI Balancing Act: Innovation, Risk, and Real Results

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, creating exciting opportunities while also raising important questions about privacy, governance, and risk management. This session will explore how organizations can responsibly embrace AI by balancing innovation with safeguards such as data governance, Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), and third-party risk management. 

  Join us to learn about the benefits of AI already being realized today and the practical steps being taken to scale AI safely into the future. Through real-world municipal examples, including AI hack-a-thons and practical use cases from clerks, treasurers, and other municipal leaders, discover lessons learned, successes achieved, and what's next on the journey of AI.

  Presented by:
  Marco Cheng-Perri
  Manager, Digital Transformation, Data and Corporate Innovation, Township of King

• 3:35pm - Closing Remarks & Adjournment

  David Arbuckle
  Executive Director, AMCTO