Access to Information

Updated November 9, 2022

The majority of District of Sooke records and reports are readily available to the public. Council and Committee of the Whole meetings live streamed, recorded and posted to our YouTube channel, unless otherwise permitted to be closed under the Community Charter in very specific (limited) circumstances. (All meetings operate in accordance with the Council Procedure Bylaw.)

This website provides copies of most current meeting agendas and minutes, as well as many plans and reports. The public can also review the personal financial reports of elected officials that are required under the Financial Disclosure Act. Should you require a record that is not available on the website, please contact the Corporate Officer at corp@sooke.ca or 250-642-1634. A fee may be applied in accordance with the Fees Bylaw.

Should the records or information requested not be readily available through contacting the municipal office, the public is also entitled to make requests for records under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The Annual Municipal Report is made available to the public by June 30th of each year, following which the Annual Municipal Meeting is held to present the annual report. The annual reports are available HERE.

The District of Sooke is obligated to keep the public informed through legislated notice requirements. The District of Sooke posts notices on this website and advertises in the local newspapers, meetings and specified municipal actions, decisions or proposals. Public Notices are available HERE.

Public can also stay informed on district activities by subscribing to preferred electronic mailing lists, including our monthly e-newsletter.


Routine Requests

Most of the information sought by the public has always been readily available and is handled informally without using the Act. Please contact Reception and our team would be happy to assist you.

Freedom of Information Access

The Corporate Services department is charged with administering the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Act applies to all records in the custody or under the control of public bodies like District of Sooke. The Act gives the public a right of access to the District’s records although there are limited exceptions to that right. The Act also regulates how the District collects, uses and discloses a wide range of personal information in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and operating its programs.

Formal Requests

Formal requests under the Act are dealt with by the Corporate Services department and the decision on whether to release information rests with the Head of Information and Privacy. A formal request is a request in writing for records that are not routinely available.

How to File a Formal Request

If you know a formal request is required, a Request For Records form should be filled out. The request should provide sufficient detail to assist staff in locating and retrieving the records. To find out if a formal request is required, contact the office directly at 250-642-1634.

Mailing Address:

Corporate Services Department
District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road
Sooke, B.C. V9Z 1J2

Email: info@sooke.ca

Fees:

The Act provides for the Municipality to charge a fee for certain limited costs of providing applicants with records. If there are costs involved in processing a formal request, the applicant will be provided with an estimate before the application is fully processed.