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

1137 decisions found

Aug 25
2025

Department of Justice Canada, 5824-04363

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00381
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than December 12, 2025.
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Aug 25
2025

National Defence, 5824-04277

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-01753
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.
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Aug 22
2025

Health Canada, 5824-04995

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-001344
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 36 business days following the date of the final report
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Aug 22
2025

Privy Council Office, 5824-03838

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00214
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than October 27, 2025.
Read more
Aug 22
2025

Privy Council Office, 5824-03696

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00324
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 response.
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Aug 22
2025

Global Affairs Canada, 5824-02367

Institution
Global Affairs Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-02488
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than September 8, 2025.
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Aug 20
2025

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Re), 2025 OIC 44

Institution
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Section of the Act
18
68
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) had improperly withheld information under section 68.1 (journalistic, creative or programming activities of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and paragraph 18(b) (competitive position of government institutions, negotiations by government institutions)

of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request. The request was for the number of paid subscribers to Gem. This allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The Information Commissioner found that the number of paid subscribers to CBC Gem, even if it is related to CBC’s programming activities, also relates to its general administration. This means the exception to the exclusion is engaged. The Commissioner concluded that the information does not meet the requirements of section 68.1.

The Commissioner also found that, while CBC did identify possible harms to its competitive position or to ongoing negotiations, it did not demonstrate that there was a reasonable expectation that these harms could occur, well beyond a mere possibility. The Commissioner concluded that the information does not meet the requirements of paragraph 18(b).

The Commissioner ordered CBC to disclose the withheld information.

CBC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would not be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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Aug 19
2025

Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 5825-00270

Institution
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00137
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 after the date of the final report.
Read more
Aug 18
2025

National Defence, 5824-04990

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-02385
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than October 3, 2025.
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Aug 18
2025

Correctional Service Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 43

Institution
Correctional Service of Canada
Section of the Act
19(1)
Decision Type
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) had improperly withheld information under subsection 19(1) (personal information) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to an access request for emails sent to and from the Warden at Millhaven Institution containing the words “outbreak”, “covid”, “mask”, isolate”, “lockdown” or “Structured Intervention Units (SIU)” between April 19 and 25, 2021. The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act. The investigation confirmed that portions of the withheld information such as names and contact information of staff and offenders for the purpose of COVID-19 contract tracing, performance appraisals, information related to intra-regional transfers and the names and birthdates of offenders, as well as details regarding an offender’s criminal history met the requirements of subsection 19(1). The Information Commissioner ordered CSC to disclose the information that does not meet the requirements of subsection 19(1), such as the type of incidents in the situation reports. CSC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would implement the order. The complaint is well founded.

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