PC-020059-1

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (the IPC) received a letter from the Executive Director (the Director) of the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) setting out the circumstances that resulted in an inadvertent disclosure of certain personal information. Specifically, correspondence intended for a particular support payor was sent to another party who was not a FRO client. As a result, the IPC initiated a privacy complaint under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act).

The Family Responsibility Office

The Family Responsibility Office operates under the authority of the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1966 to:

• collect support payments on behalf of recipients
• enforce court-ordered support payments; and
• enforce certain domestic contracts and paternity agreements filed with the court

One of FRO's enforcement initiatives allows for the suspension of a support payor's drivers licence. The threat of suspension and suspension itself is hoped to encourage the support payor to deal with outstanding arrears and bring the case into compliance.

• FIPPA
• Section 42
• 2(1)

• support payor or recipient