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

1192 decisions found

Apr 29
2025

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Re), 2025 OIC 29

Institution
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Section of the Act
13(1)
19(1)
23
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) improperly withheld information under subsections 13(1) (confidential information from government bodies), 19(1) (personal information) and section 23 (solicitor-client privilege) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to an access request for information related to the complainant on or around late 2000. The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The investigation confirmed that the information withheld under subsection 19(1), section 23, and portions of information withheld under subsection 13(1) met the requirements for exemption. However, the Information Commissioner concluded that some of the withheld information did not meet the requirements of subsection 13(1). She also concluded that the RCMP had not taken reasonable steps to seek the consent of the government bodies from whom the information was obtained to disclose the information that qualified for exemption under subsection 13(1), as is required by subsection 13(2). 

The Commissioner ordered the RCMP to disclose the information that does not meet the requirements of subsection 13(1). The Commissioner also ordered the RCMP to seek consent of the government bodies pursuant to subsection 13(2) and, if given, reasonably exercise discretion to decide whether to release the information.

The RCMP gave notice to the Commissioner that it would implement the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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Apr 23
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-182032

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-01945
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request by no later than June 30, 2025.
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Apr 23
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-182041

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-01947
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request by no later than June 30, 2025.
Read more
Apr 23
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-182015

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-01943
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than June 30, 2025.
Read more
Apr 23
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-182024

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-01944
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request by no later than October 31, 2025.
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Apr 23
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-182038

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-01946
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request by no later than June 30, 2025.
Read more
Apr 17
2025

National Defence, A-2024-00808

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-02420
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 that date of the final report
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Apr 15
2025

Indigenous Services Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 27

Institution
Indigenous Services Canada
Section of the Act
30(1)(a)
Decision Type
Recommendation
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Indigenous Services Canada did not conduct a reasonable search in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act for entries found in the Service Administration Log. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Indigenous Services Canada advised that at the time the response to the access request was provided, no records had been located. Indigenous Services Canada informed the Office of the Information Commissioner that 3,286 pages of records were received by Indigenous Services Canada’s access to information and privacy unit after the response had been sent to the requester.

The Information Commissioner ordered that the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada provide a new response to the complainant by May 31, 2025.

The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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Apr 10
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, A-2024-184731

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
5824-02822
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
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