Program Overview

Course Description

This workshop is approximately 10 learning hours plus a 3.5-hour live interactive problem-solving session. Learners who wish to do the final assessment to qualify for the microcredential badge attesting to their competency will spend an additional 2-3 hours completing the requirements.

In this workshop, participants from municipalities, regional centres for education, post-secondary institutions, and Nova Scotia Government Agencies, Boards, and Commissions will examine key legislated Information Access and Privacy (IAP) requirements, as well as best practices and how to apply them. Content is organized into 15 distinct learning modules with recorded lectures, readings, and case studies that reflect common Information Access and Privacy situations.

Course Outline

The modules begin with an overview of the status of Information Access and Privacy in public sector, provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada, and then proceed to highlight key legislated obligations, first in Information Access, and then in Privacy. The modules are progressive, and learners should successfully complete an average of five modules per week over a three-week period prior to the scheduled online session.

Module Details

• Module 1: What Information Access and Privacy Means for your Organization
• Module 2: The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Application Process
• Module 3: Searches for Records
• Module 4: Freedom of Information (FOI) Exemptions
• Module 5: How to Deal with NSIPC Reviews of FOI Disclosure Decisions with Janet Birt-Gerrans, Director of Investigations, Office of the N.S.I. P.C
• Module 6: What Privacy Means for Your Organization
• Module 7: Privacy by Design (PBD)
• Module 8: The Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act (PIIDPA)
• Module 9: Privacy and Social Media Background Checks in the Hiring Process
• Module 10: Short Form Privacy Impact Assessments
• Module 11: Privacy and the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Making Decisions
• Module 12: Privacy and the Monitoring of Employees Working Remotely
• Module 13: Privacy Breaches - How to Prepare for Them and Act on Them
• Module 14: How to Prepare for and Respond to Ransomware Attacks through Table Top Exercises
• Module 15: How to Deal with NSIPC Privacy Investigations with Janet Birt-Gerrans, Director of Investigations, Office of the N.S.I. P.C

What You Will Learn

• Strategies to respond to Information Access and Privacy challenges
• Basic tools used to process Freedom of Information (FOI) applications
• Applying exemptions and handling appeals to disclosure of records
• The five key privacy protection obligations in the N.S. legislation and how to implement them
• The legislated requirements on how personal information needs to be stored, accessed, and disclosed in Canada
• Major sources of privacy breaches and the best practices in preventing them

Microcredential

This course provides learners with the opportunity to earn a microcredential. A microcredential is evidence of a skill or competency that is employment-related. To earn the microcredential in this course, learners will need to successfully complete a competency-based assessment.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this workshop.

Recommended For

• IAP Coordinators who work in the K-12 and Post Secondary Sectors as well as municipalities
• Human Resource Professionals
• Information Technology Professionals
• Senior Management who work in the K-12 and Post Secondary Sectors as well as municipalities

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Certificate in Information and Communication: Required

Course Details

Section 008

• Section Title: Navigating Information Access and Privacy
• Type: Online - Self-Paced
• Dates: Apr 10, 2026 to Jun 19, 2026
• Total Learning Hours: 14.0
• Location: Online Campus - Atlantic Time
• Instruction Delivery Method(s): Blended - Online
• Course Fee(s): $400.00
• CEUs: 1.4 CEUs
• Instructors: Bob Doherty

Section 009

• Section Title: Navigating Information Access and Privacy
• Type: Online - Self-Paced
• Dates: Sep 25, 2026 to Dec 04, 2026
• Total Learning Hours: 14.0
• Location: Online Campus - Atlantic Time
• Instruction Delivery Method(s): Blended - Online
• Course Fee(s): $450.00
• CEUs: 1.4 CEUs
• Required Software: Students will require a webcam and microphone to participate in live sessions.

Instructor Biography

Bob Doherty is a respected teacher, consultant, and lawyer with over 25 years of experience in the field of information access and privacy (IAP), teaching, and pro bono legal work. He has dealt with many ethical decisions involving his work as a pro bono lawyer for asylum seekers and with respect to Freedom of Information and Privacy issues.