Our role regarding access to information and the protection of personal information

The Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information This link will open in a new window. provides that any person has the right:

to be informed when public bodies hold personal information concerning him or her and have access to it
to ask, under certain conditions, to have access to certain administrative documents from the public bodies.

The Act also provides for the obligation for public bodies to protect the personal information in their possession.

At Retraite Québec, the team of the Bureau du Responsable de l'accès à l'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels (BAIPRP) ensures that the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information is respected.

Claudia Rousseau, responsible for the BAIPRP at Retraite Québec explains her team's role more precisely:

What does the BAIPRP do regarding access to information at Retraite Québec?

We reply to applications regarding confidential documents held by Retraite Québec as part of its mission.

We process applications for access to documents that have been sent to us, notably by citizens. If needed, we help the person who sent an application to clearly target the documents or personal information he or she wishes to obtain. If Retraite Québec does not hold the requested information, we are required to refer this person to the competent body.

We verify the identity of the person who sent us an application and we ensure that the confidentiality of any personal information contained in their file is respected. Therefore, it is possible that certain elements included in the file given to this person are redacted, meaning hidden. This measure guarantees the confidentiality of personal information concerning third parties or allowing them to be identified.

We also process requests for a correction of personal information which concern, for example, errors relating to a date of birth or a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

The applications for access to Retraite Québec's documents and those for a correction of personal information must be processed within the prescribed time limit of 20 days. If we cannot respond to a request or if we reject it, in whole or in part, we must justify our decision to the person who sent the application. We must also inform him or her of the possibility to ask for a review of our decision from the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec.

What does the BAIPRP do regarding the protection of personal information at Retraite Québec?

We contribute to the realization of several activities within the organization. We issue notices on all the subjects relating to the protection of personal information and privacy, such as the rules to be followed when collecting and using personal information.

We write the communication agreements negotiated between Retraite Québec and various organizations and we collaborate in the development of various projects to ensure compliance under the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information is respected.

We participate in various technological projects and surveys conducted at Retraite Québec to ensure that issues regarding the protection of personal information are taken into consideration.

We are also on the lookout for new developments in access to information and the protection of personal information and we ensure that they are known within the organization.

For more information regarding access to information and the protection of personal information at Retraite Québec, consult the Access to information section.