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Snapshot 2088ae140c3d · verified 2026-06-07 ·
original document ·
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unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
1. PURPOSE STATEMENT
The purpose of this policy is to guide the collection, use, retention, and sharing of
recorded information collected through video surveillance technology under the
jurisdiction and/or ownership of the Town.
Pursuant to Section 48.1(1) of the Act, this Policy shall also serve as the information
practice(s) to ensure compliance with the Act to protect personal information, make
reasonable arrangements against unauthorized uses, and outline the access,
disclosure, and disposal of records.
2. APPLICATION
Where and when warranted, the Town may use video surveillance systems at/on
municipally owned assets, buildings, or spaces in order to deter and detect crime,
amongst other purposes. Pursuant to Section 37(2) of the Right to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act, SNB 2009, c R-10.6 ("the Act"), this Policy applies to records
and personal information that the public body has authority to collect.
3. DEFINITIONS
- "Act" means the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, SNB 2009, c R-
10.6 ("the Act");
- "Authorized Representative" means authorized members of the Town of
Salisbury staff who are designated to have access to records collected under this
policy, as stipulated in Section 8 of this Policy;
- "Video Surveillance System" means a system, such as CCTV or vehicle dash
cameras, that may record and/or monitor locations and is/are used by the Town
for the purposes as authorized and set-out in this Policy;
- "Public Body" means a public body as defined in the Act, including the Town;
POLICY
Department:
Administration
USE & RETENTION OF VIDEO
SURVEILLANCE
Effective Date: February 13, 2024
Last Reviewed Date: June 30, 2025
- "Records" means the definition of record as per the Act, and for the purposes of
this Policy, includes files recorded, photographic evidence, and any record stored
in any manner by the Town pursuant to this Policy;
- "Monitoring" means the review of footage that was collected pursuant to this
Policy and is being reviewed within the regulated retention schedule but is not
exported as a record beyond the standard storage tool for the footage.
4. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
It is a policy that video surveillance may be used by the Town for any of the following
purposes:
- Enhancing the protection and safety of employees and the general public;
- Deterring incidents of crime;
- Safety concerns;
- Reducing, deterring, and investigation incidents of vandalism or criminal activity;
- Protecting property and assets;
- Ensuring efficient municipal operations, such as winter maintenance and snow
clearing.
The monitoring of video surveillance shall be performed only by authorized individuals,
in accordance to this Policy, and pursuant to the following principles:
- All monitoring and surveillance shall be conducted in accordance with all
applicable law;
- Video surveillance shall be conducted in a professional, ethical, and legal
manner;
- The video surveillance shall only be monitored by the Town if the recording(s)
is/are on municipal property (including if taken on vehicles), or, in a public space
that the public body has erected signage advising the public of potential
monitoring or recording;
- Records obtained through said surveillance shall only be released pursuant to
standards set out by the Act and other applicable legislation.
Under no circumstances shall video surveillance be employed in areas where residents,
employees, or stakeholders may expect a reasonable expectation of privacy (including
but not limited to: offices, change rooms, washrooms, etc.).
5. PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
The Town may also collect photographic evidence for different purposes in alignment
with the principles of this Policy. This may include for the following purposes:
- Photographs that may be used for purposes related to by-law enforcement
investigations;
- Photographs that support building a case on infraction issues (including, but not
limited to: building permit contraventions, dangerous/unsightly premises, etc.);
- Photographs pertaining to accidents or damage involving or affecting municipal
assets;
- Photographs and/or video(s) that assist with insurance claims, and/or potential
insurance claims (ie: dash cameras);
- Photographs of damage and/or potential damage that may lead to potential
claims involving the municipality.
The Town shall use discretion while taking photos for the purposes of photographic
evidence.
Photographic evidence may be retained for periods beyond the standard retention
period for video surveillance, given their intended and specific purpose, at the discretion
of the Town.
6. RECORDS & RETENTION
Records collected from video surveillance shall only be used for the following purposes:
- detecting, deterring, and investigating unlawful activity, which includes possible
contraventions of any federal or provincial law or municipal by-laws;
- investigating and resolving personal injury, damage to assets, and other legal
claims;
- investigating and resolving public complaints received by the Town or matters
that may give rise to a customer complaint being received by the Town; or
- for training purposes (specifically for footage from dash cameras).
In the event of records from surveillance being released, whether for the purposes of
the Act or pursuant to this Policy, a log shall be maintained for all requests and records,
including the following information:
- Name of the requestor;
- Date, time range, and location of the request;
- Date of the request;
- File/case number, if/where applicable;
- Name of the agency, if applicable.
Video surveillance records shall be routinely erased at least every 30 days, unless the
surveillance system's retention schedule is, by default, less than 30 days, with the
exception as set our herein including but not limited to for the purposes of criminal
investigations.
The formal monitoring and review of surveillance video records may take place if there
is reasonable cause to believe that a crime or an act of anti-social behavior has been or
is in the process of being committed.
In the event that any record is released by the Town, the record shall become the
property of the requestor. In the event that the Town releases record(s) pursuant to this
Policy for the purposes of law enforcement (e.g.: RCMP investigation), it shall maintain
the record for a period of at least two (2) years, beyond the standard retention schedule.
Requests can be made for records under the following circumstances:
- RCMP, Department of Justice and Public Safety or equivalent: Request to any
authorized individual of the Town, under this Policy;
- General Public: Requests for records retained under this Policy must be
requested through the Town's standard Right to Information process, available
on the Town's website: salisburynb.ca.
The Town shall maintain all records and footage in secure cloud-based locations that
can only be accessed by the Authorized Representatives, pursuant to this Policy.
7. PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
Pursuant to Section 46 and/or 46(1) of the Act, when the public body is using video
surveillance, it shall notify the public by way of signage. This shall be considered, for the
purposes of administering this policy, disclosure and consent to the information being
collected.
In the instance of video recordings, whether or not used for the purposes of surveillance
(e.g.: Town Council Meetings), all members of the public shall be notified of any
recording and its intended use. Under no circumstances shall any recording outside of
the control and authority of the Town be permitted without mutual consent (e.g.: no
devices shall be left unattended for recording purposes outside of the control of the
Town).
As a general principle, the Town shall consider whether or not, in an instance of video
surveillance pursuant to this policy, the general public would have a reasonable
expectation of privacy. If this is the case, the Town shall refrain from any invasion of it,
unless reasonably required and justified.
Pursuant to Section 37(3) of the Act, the Town shall only collet as much personal
information as is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it is
collected in order to promote the protection of privacy (e.g.: reasonable efforts shall be
made to ensure that recordings in public spaces do not also violate privacy by
showcasing backyards, private residence windows, etc.).
8. RESPONSIBILITIES
The Clerk of the Town is designated under Section 48.1(4) of the Act for the purposes
of administering this policy and the associated records, pursuant to the Act.
The Chief Administrative Officer, in consultation with authorized representatives, is
responsible for authorizing and justifying the use of video surveillance in an instance
where additional surveillance is considered to be collected and monitored.
Authorized employees are responsible for ensuring compliance under this Policy and
related legislation. For the purposes of this Policy, authorized employees consist of the
Chief Administrative Officer, the Manager of Infrastructure & Public Works, the
Clerk/Treasurer, the Coordinator of Protective Services (for Protective Services
vehicles, including Salisbury Fire Rescue, unless otherwise extended by the CAO), or
their designate(s) as appointed by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Salisbury Town Council is responsible for ensuring the Town manages risk and ensures
compliance with the relevant legislation and their amendments by updating and ratifying
modifications to this Policy and municipal practices as deemed necessary.