Has anyone ever requested an ATI on emails regarding themselves if still in the service? Can I just pay my $5 and ask away?
As already noted, requests for information about yourself would be a
Privacy Act request. Extracts from that act that apply follow.
Right of access
12 (1) Subject to this Act, every individual who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act has a right to and shall, on request, be given access to
(a) any personal information about the individual contained in a personal information bank; and
(b) any other personal information about the individual under the control of a government institution with respect to which the individual is able to provide sufficiently specific information on the location of the information as to render it reasonably retrievable by the government institution.
Request for access under paragraph 12(1)(a)
13 (1) A request for access to personal information under paragraph 12(1)(a) shall be made in writing to the government institution that has control of the personal information bank that contains the information and shall identify the bank.
Request for access under 12(1)(b)
(
2) A request for access to personal information under paragraph 12(1)(b) shall be made in writing to the government institution that has control of the information and shall provide sufficiently specific information on the location of the information as to render it reasonably retrievable by the government institution.
Since you are seeking information that could be contained in emails (not in a "personal information bank" - i.e., a specific file that already identifies you), then your request likely falls under 12(1)(b). You would have to identify that you (yourself) wanted that specific information since a generic request under
Access To Information for all emails from an organization (that may contain info about you) would redact any identifying information about individuals (including you). Your request would also need to provide sufficient information about the emails/documents/notes/etc in question; who, what, when, where, etc so that they can be found.
The request can be made on-line. On-line requests to DND/CAF are done through the TBS ATIP site.
There are several options when making an access to information or personal information request. Using the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Online Request service is a fast, easy and convenient way to submit a request. This service allows individuals to make online requests for...
www.canada.ca