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

1189 decisions found

Oct 29
2025

Transport Canada, 5825-00582

Institution
Transport Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00008
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than January 29, 2026.
Read more
Oct 27
2025

National Defence, 5825-01003

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00086
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
Oct 23
2025

National Defence, 5825-01166

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-01644
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than November 28, 2025.
Read more
Oct 20
2025

Transport Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 59

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

The complainant alleged that Transport Canada had not conducted reasonable searches for records in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act. The request was for records between Transport Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) related to Class D operation with a single engine helicopter between January 1, 2017, and December 8, 2023. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

As a result of the investigation, Transport Canada conducted additional searches and confirmed that approximately 690 additional pages identified to be responsive to the request exist. Transport Canada indicated that it would take at least six months to consult with the RCMP on most of those pages before providing a new response to the request.

The Information Commissioner ordered that Transport Canada process the additional records and provide a new response no later than 60 business days following the date of the final report. Transport Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would likely be implementing the order. The complaint is well founded.

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Oct 16
2025

Privy Council Office (Re), 2025 OIC 52

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
30(1)(a)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) did not conduct a reasonable search in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act for All IAC reports (IAs, SIRs, and other reports; all versions of such reports, including codeword, non-codeword, CEO and allied versions) dealing with the USSR and/or members of the former Warsaw Pact and Yugoslavia produced during the period 1 January to 31 December 1990.

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

The investigation determined that the Offices of Primary Interest did not retrieve all relevant records when they were tasked to do so. PCO was unable to show that it conducted a reasonable search for all of the records responsive to the access request. An additional search conducted during the investigation resulted in an additional 1,352 pages being provided to the complainant. However, the Complainant continued to maintain that more records should exist. In response, PCO identified a further 98 pages of records.

The Information Commissioner ordered that PCO provide the subsequent response to the access request by January 22, 2026.

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

The complaint is well founded.

Read more
Oct 16
2025

Department of Justice Canada, 5825-00779

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00287 / PU
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 19, 2025.
Read more
Oct 16
2025

National Defence, 5825-01012

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00102
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
Oct 14
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, 5824-04850

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-190676
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
Oct 14
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, 5824-04849

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-190620
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than January 31, 2026.
Read more
Oct 10
2025

Public Services and Procurement Canada, 5825-01169

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00013
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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