Decisions

The Information Commissioner publishes* the final reports on her investigations on this website when she deems them to be of value in providing guidance to both institutions and complainants.

The Office of the Information Commissioner has established the Decisions Database to enable users to search final reports and other decisions, which outline the reasons and principles behind the Commissioner’s decisions and filter them using a number of criteria.

This database is updated regularly and continues to grow as more final reports, decisions and orders are added. The dates indicated refer to the date on which the decision was rendered.

Institutions are legally obliged to abide by an order from the Commissioner unless they apply to the Federal Court for a review of the matter that is the subject of the order. The Access to Information Act does not provide any other alternative to complying with the order. 

To learn more about the Information Commissioner’s orders and her decisions on applications for permission to decline to act on an access request, please visit Frequently asked questions.

Other Corporate publications are available on the website.

* Note

Please note that under subsection 37(3.2) of the Act, final reports cannot be published prior to the expiration of the timelines for applications for judicial review before the Federal Court.

Final reports may only be published a minimum of 36 business days after the date of the final report. When third parties and/or the Privacy Commissioner receive a copy of a final report, the report may only be published 46 business days after the date of the final report.

Filters
Decision Type

1322 decisions found

Mar 27
2026

National Defence, 5825-04229

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-01549
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days after the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 27
2026

National Defence, 5825-03824

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-01280
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days after the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 27
2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-02381

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00167
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 27
2026

Canada Revenue Agency, 5825-02181

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000704
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 27
2026

Health Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 36

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
13(1)
19(1)
20(1)(b)
20(1)(c)
Decision Type
Recommendation
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Health Canada had improperly withheld information under the following provisions of the Access to Information Act:

  • subsection 13(1) (confidential information from government bodies);
  • subsection 19(1) (personal information);
  • paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information); and
  • paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party).

This was in response to an access request for records related to the Periodic Safety Update Report #3 for COVID-19 Vaccine provided to the European Medical Agency (EMA) on August 18, 2022. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Health Canada and the third party did not establish how any of the information met the requirements of paragraphs 20(1)(b) or 20(1)(c), although some of the information meets the requirements of subsection 13(1) and 19(1). The Information Commissioner ordered that Health Canada disclose the information withheld under only third-party exemptions and the information withheld under subsection 13(1) that has been made public. Health Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order. The complaint is well founded.

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Mar 25
2026

Health Canada, 5825-03989

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000992
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 25
2026

Health Canada, 5825-03987

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000990
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 25
2026

Health Canada, 5825-03986

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000989
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 25
2026

Health Canada, 5825-03984

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000987
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Mar 25
2026

Health Canada, 5825-03729

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000140
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
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