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Guidance

Helpful information on how the Office of the Information Commissioner approaches investigations and interprets the Access to Information Act.

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Submit a complaint

The Access to Information Act gives a right to access information under the control of government institutions. The Act also provides a right to complain to the Information Commissioner about matters related to an access request made under the Act, such as the following:

  • the institution’s response to the request
  • the fact that the institution did not respond to the request
  • how an institution treated the request.

Individuals may also complain about other matters related to requesting and accessing records under Part 1 of the Act, even if they did not make an access request.

In all instances, complainants may authorize someone else to submit a complaint(s) on their behalf.

More information: Types of complaints; How the OIC processes and investigates complaints

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Caroline Maynard

What the OIC does

Complaints

The Access to Information Act gives Canadians the right to request information from federal institutions. If you submitted a request for information to a federal institution under the Act and you are not satisfied with how it was processed, you may file a complaint with the OIC.

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Guidance

Guidance for institutions on how the OIC approaches investigations and on the information Commissioner's interpretation of the Act is available to everyone.

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Parliamentary activities

The Information Commissioner reports directly to Parliament. She appears before parliamentary committees and makes written submissions to them. She also publishes her annual report to Parliament and issues special reports when required. Upon request, the Commissioner provides expert advice to parliamentarians on access to information matters.

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Latest news

Commissioner Welcomes Parliamentary Committee’s Report on Fixing Access to Information

Release Date

Gatineau, June 21, 2023 – Following the tabling of the report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) on the Access to Information system in Parliament yesterday, the Information Commissioner has released the following statement:

“This July will mark 40 years since the Access to Information Act came into force. As this law enters its fifth decade, it is definitely showing its age.

Bridging Information Across Nations: Concretizing the Global Role of Access to Information for Democratic Preservation, Inclusivity, and Development

Release Date

June 21, 2023

The members of the International Conference of Information Commissioners, gathered on June 21, 2023, during the 14th Edition of their Annual Conference, held virtually and in the City of Manila, Philippines, issue the following statement:

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