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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 12
2026

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 5825-00997

Institution
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00809
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.
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Jan 9
2026

Transport Canada, 5824-04999

Institution
Transport Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00896
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than March 31, 2026.
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Jan 8
2026

Library and Archives Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 4

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
30(1)(a)
Decision Type
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) did not respond to an access request for various information relating to the Metis Nation in Canada, Treaties and the Native Women’s Association of Canada, within the 30day period set out in section 7 of the Access to Information Act.

The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The investigation determined that the access request was too broad and expansive and was not specific enough that any targeted record or records could, with a reasonable effort, be identified. Responding to the access request as written would require LAC to undertake historical and legal research that goes beyond reasonable efforts to identify responsvie records. As a result, since the request did not meet the requirements of section 6, LAC was not required to respond to the access request and LAC was therefore not in deemed refusal pursuant to subsection 10(3).

The complaint is not well founded.

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Jan 6
2026

National Defence, 5825-02530

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00686
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 6
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-02090

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
CIRNAC-A-2025-00094 / MH
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 6
2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5825-01196

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-07790
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 6
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 3

Institution
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs / Indigenous Services
Section of the Act
9(1)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) took an extension for an unreasonable amount of time under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act, and that it improperly processed two requests as one. The request was for updated Consultation Agreement between Canada and the MNA and related documents from January 1, 2024, to May 20, 2025. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(c) of the Act.

The Information Commissioner concluded that the time extension taken by CIRNAC was unreasonable. In particular, a consultation with 12 pages of records was sent to the Department of Justice (Justice) with a response time of an estimated 90 days, based on Justice’s service standards. In the absence of any additional complexity, the Information Commissioner determined that the 90-day timeline was not justified.

The Information Commissioner concluded that it was not unreasonable for CIRNAC to treat the request as singular, in the circumstances of this request.

The Information Commissioner ordered that CIRNAC provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.

CIRNAC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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Jan 5
2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01410

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00595
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 5
2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01339

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00668
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 5
2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01336

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00600
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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