Virtual Reading Room
Here you will find links to materials that must be made available to the public under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
About FIPPAThe Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act has two main purposes:
- To provide a right of access to information under the control of government institutions in accordance with three principles:
- information should be available to the public
- necessary exemptions from the right of access should be limited and specific
- decisions on the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently of government.
- To protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by institutions and to provide individuals with a right of access to that information.
Section 35 of the act requires ministry documents such as manuals, instructions, directives, guidelines and program applications, as well as the annual report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to be made easily accessible to the public for inspection and copying.
The Ontario Directory of Records is a publication required under FIPPA that describes all Ontario government ministries and agencies covered by the act and the types of records they maintain.
It also gives a description of the various categories of government record holdings including those that are exempt under FIPPA and not available to the public.
Awards & Funding
Archaeology
- Engaging Aboriginal Communities in Archaeology
- Forest Operations on Crown Land
- Standards & Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists
- Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment: Water Main Back-Up Route to the Ottawa International Airport
Heritage
The Ontario Heritage Tool Kit consists of the following guides:
- Your community, your heritage, your committee - Establishing and Sustaining an Effective Municipal Heritage Committee
- Heritage Property Evaluation - Listing, Researching and Evaluating Cultural Heritage Property
- Designating Heritage Properties - Municipal Designation of Individual Properties Under the OHA
- Heritage Conservation Districts: A Guide to District Designation Under the Ontario Heritage Act
- Heritage Resources in the Land Use Planning Process - Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
- Heritage Places of Worship: A Guide to Conserving Heritage Places of Worship in Ontario Communities
Other heritage resources include:
- Heritage Property Tax Relief
- Standards & Guidelines for Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties
- Ontario Heritage Act, Part IV: Provincial Powers to Conserve Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest of Provincial Significance
- Why designate?
- The Municipal Register of Heritage Properties
- Municipal Financial Incentives for Heritage Properties
- Insurance and Heritage Properties
- Heritage Conservation Principles for Land Use Planning
- Investing in Heritage: Municipal Tax Back Grants
- Eight Guiding Principles in the Conservation of Built Heritage Properties
- Criteria for Evaluating Potential for Built Heritage and Cultural Heritage Landscapes: A Checklist for the Non-Specialist
- Criteria for Evaluating Archaeological Potential A Checklist for the Non-Specialist
- Criteria for Evaluating Marine Archaeological Potential: A Checklist for Non-Marine Specialists
- Cultural Heritage Resources: An Information Bulletin for Projects Subject to Ontario Regulation 359/09 - Renewable Energy Approvals
- Heritage Protection Strengthened for Ontario: Major revisions to the Ontario Heritage Act
- Strengthening Ontario's Heritage: Identify, Protect, Promote
- Landscapes of Memories - A Guide for Conserving Historic Cemeteries: Repairing Tombstones
- Heritage organizations and historical societies
- Standards for Community Museums in Ontario
Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity From Seizure Act resources include:
- Application Guidelines for Determination under the Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity From Seizure Act
- Application for Determination under the Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity From Seizure Act
- Appendix A: Statutory Declaration in the matter of the Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity From Seizure Act
Libraries
Tourism
- Developing Shore Excursions for Great Lakes Cruises
- Management Guidelines for Forestry and Resource-Based Tourism
- Pageantry Template Resource Manual
- Resource-Based Tourism Policy
- Sport Tourism Planning Template
- Survey Procedures for Tourism Economic Impact Assessments of Gated Events and Festivals
- Survey Procedures for Tourism Economic Impact Assessments of Ungated or Open Access Events and Festivals
- Tourism Inc. Market Readiness Self-Assessment Tool
- Tourism products development manual for francophone Ontario
