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

Mar 25
2025

Indigenous Services Canada, 5824-02444

Institution
Indigenous Services Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
ISC-A-2023-00323
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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Mar 25
2025

Privy Council Office, 5824-02024

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00881
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
2025

Library and Archives Canada, 5824-01728

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-01477
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days after the date of the final report.
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Mar 25
2025

Library and Archives Canada, 5824-02101

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-02655
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days following the date of the final report.
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Mar 25
2025

Privy Council Office, 5824-01959

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2022-00640
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 24
2025

Library and Archives Canada, 5823-02648

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-03497
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
Mar 24
2025

Privy Council Office, 5823-04827

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00930 / TSK
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
Mar 24
2025

Library and Archives Canada, 5823-02647

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-03495
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
Mar 24
2025

Library and Archives Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 18

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
9(1)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that the extension of time Library and Archives Canada (LAC) took under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act to respond to an access request is unreasonable. The request is for RG146: Vol. 4050 1 01/05/70 04/28/72 Vol. 4050 2 04/29/72 07/15/84 Vol. 4050 3 07/16/84 11/13/84 Vol. 4051 1 05/19/60 07/31/68 Vol. 4051 2 08/01/68 01/31/71 Vol. 4051 3 02/01/71 05/25/73 Vol. 4051 4 05/26/73 11/03/82 Vol. 4052 5 11/04/82 07/15/84 Vol. 4052 6 07/16/84 11/15/84. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(c) of the Act.

LAC claimed an extension of time under paragraph 9(1)(b) for 639 days to consult the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on 974 pages of records. The Commissioner found the extension, on less than 1000 pages of records, to be unreasonable. LAC could not show it had made a serious effort to assess how long the extension should be, relying instead on CSIS’s estimate of 18 to 24 months as the time it would need to review the 974 pages of records and provide its recommendations on disclosure.

This led the Commissioner to question, as she had in her 2022 report on her systemic investigation into LAC’s consultation practices and other matters, LAC’s position that it must consult institutions on all security and intelligence-related records—thus, jeopardizing LAC’s ability to provide timely access.

Since the Commissioner concluded that the 639-day extension of time was unreasonable, the Commissioner ordered that LAC provide a complete response to the request no later than 60 business days following the date of her final report.

She also recommended that LAC include in its next semi-annual report on its progress addressing issues raised in the systemic investigation specific updates on improved timelines for consultations with other institutions.

LAC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would not be implementing the order but indicated that it would include an update on consultation timelines in its next progress report.

The complaint is well founded.

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Mar 24
2025

Public Services and Procurement Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 21

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
30(1)(a)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) had not conducted a reasonable search for records in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act. The request was for specific records related to a contract for decommissioning and demolition services at the Health Protection Building that was awarded to a subcontractor. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

PSPC did not acknowledge control over some of the requested records, however, the Information Commissioner found that the records, if they exist, were under PSPC’s control. Additionally, PSPC did not demonstrate that it had conducted a reasonable search for responsive records.

The Commissioner ordered that PSPC seek assistance and copies of records from a third party, provide a new response to the complainant and give the complainant access to any additional records it located. PSPC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order. The complaint is well founded.

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