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

1258 decisions found

Jan 27
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-02156

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
CIRNAC-A-2025-00058
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
Jan 27
2026

Global Affairs Canada, 5824-04270

Institution
Global Affairs Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00400
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 90 business days following the date of this final report.
Read more
Jan 27
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 11

Institution
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs / Indigenous Services
Section of the Act
20(1)(b)
20(1)(c)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) had improperly withheld information under paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information), paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party), and section 23 (solicitor-client and litigation privilege) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to an access request for the agreement, land claim settlement signed in the year 2000 between the federal Canadian government and the Squamish Nation. Neither CIRNAC nor the third party showed that the information met the requirements of the exemptions - in particular how there was a clear and direct connection between the disclosure of any specific information and a risk of harm, that the information could result in a reasonable expectation of interference with negotiations, or that privilege applies. The Information Commissioner ordered CIRNAC to disclose the records in their entirety. CIRNAC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would not be disclosing the records.

Read more
Jan 26
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-03204

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
CIRNAC-A-2025-00070
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
Jan 26
2026

Canada Revenue Agency, 5825-01810

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000038
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 60th business day following the date of the final report.
Read more
Jan 23
2026

Canada Revenue Agency, 5825-03102

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000555
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day following the date of the final report.
Read more
Jan 23
2026

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 5825-02143

Institution
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00694
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 60 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
Jan 23
2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5825-01859

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-09277
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
Jan 23
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-01630

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00066
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
Jan 23
2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 9

Institution
Fisheries and Oceans
Section of the Act
19(1)
20(1)(b)
20(1)(c)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) improperly withheld information under 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) of the Access to Information Act to an access request for records relating to the application form for the issuance of an authorization under the Fisheries Act (Non-Emergency Situations) that was submitted by Ridley Terminals Inc. for its berth expansion project. The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(c) of the Act. DFO could not show that it met all the requirements of these exemptions; in particular it did not show that all the information meets the requirements for paragraph 20(1)(b) or paragraph 20(1)(c). The Information Commissioner ordered that DFO disclose all the withheld information, with the exception of the information that meets the requirements of subsection 19(1). DFO gave notice to the Commissioner that it would follow the order. The complaint is well founded.

Read more
Date modified:
Submit a complaint