Despite amendments made five years ago to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA) in the Northwest Territories, none of the 33 municipalities are currently subject to these access laws. The amendments, passed in July 2021, aimed to empower municipalities to come under the act, but implementation has stalled due to cost concerns. A working group, including representatives from various local government associations, proposed creating a centralized Access and Privacy Office to facilitate these changes. However, LGANT has indicated it lacks the necessary resources to operate such an office. Discussions regarding the financial implications and potential amendments to the act are expected in the next Legislative Assembly. Information and Privacy Commissioner Andrew Fox has voiced concerns about imposing access obligations on municipalities that may not yet be ready to comply. He noted that many jurisdictions have specific legislation for local government access to information, highlighting the need for a legal framework that allows citizens to request municipal records.