News & Media

Ladysmith, BC - The Town of Ladysmith is implementing a $10 application fee for all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to the municipality effective October 16.

Individuals wishing to submit an FOI will be required to pay the $10 application fee via cash, cheque or debit. There is no application fee for requests for access to personal information.

“Freedom of Information requests are vital to open and transparent government, but they require significant staff time to fulfill. The implementation of a $10 application fee is not intended to limit public access, but rather to balance the time spent on providing other community services. This measure will ensure the quality and timeliness of responses while continuing to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability,” says Acting Mayor Tricia McKay.

 

In 2021, the B.C. government amended the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), allowing local governments to charge a $10 application fee for FOI requests. Several local governments have since implemented an application fee including the City of Duncan, City of Campbell River, City of Langford, City of Chilliwack, City of Quesnel, District of Lantzville, District of Summerland, Township of Esquimalt, Town of Osoyoos, and the Comox Valley Regional District.

 

Although the Town regularly provides information on its website and staff consistently answer questions from the public, there has been an uptick in FOI requests recently. As of October 3, the Town has received 17 FOI requests this year, 10 of which were submitted by the same individual. In 2023, the Town received 13 requests, with five coming from the same person. The Town received just six requests in 2022.

 

"The Town of Ladysmith prides itself on being an open and transparent municipal government that is accountable to the public. We provide a wealth of information on our website that can be accessed by members of the public and we have just launched Let’s Talk Ladysmith, a new online engagement platform that allows residents to learn about and provide input on Town initiatives in an easily accessible manner,” says Nicholas Pescod, the Town's Communication & Engagement Specialist. “We continuously strive to ensure that residents have the tools they need to stay informed and engaged with local government decisions and operations."

To learn more about what information is routinely provided, either online or by Town staff, and what information requires a Freedom of Information request, please visit our list of Routinely Requested Information.

For the latest news and updates, visit the Town’s website at www.ladysmith.ca, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

The Town of Ladysmith respectfully acknowledges that we gather and work on the unceded territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.

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Media Contact
Nicholas Pescod
Communications & Engagement Specialist
npescod@ladysmith.ca
250-268-0606