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

1319 decisions found

Feb 13
2026

Health Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 15

Institution
Health Canada
Section of the Act
20(1)(b)
20(1)(c)
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Health Canada had improperly withheld information under paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information) and paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request for information related to submissions for using Anafranil / Altius Clomipramine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Both Health Canada and the third party declined to make detailed representations in support of the third-party exemptions. Both indicated that due to the passage of time, those exemptions no longer apply. The Information Commissioner ordered that Health Canada disclose the information at issue. Health Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order. The complaint is well founded.

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Feb 11
2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5825-02063

Institution
Library and Archives Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-09122
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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Feb 11
2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 19

Institution
Fisheries and Oceans
Section of the Act
19(1)
20(1)(b)
20(1)(c)
Decision Type
Recommendation
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) improperly withheld information under subsection 19(1) (personal information), paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information), and paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request for records related to commercial fishing agreements between DFO and Eskasoni First Nation (EFN) between the years 2000 and 2020. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act. DFO and the third party did not show that some of the information met all of the requirements for paragraph 20(1)(b), and the risk of harm under paragraph 20(1)(c) was speculative. The Information Commissioner ordered that DFO disclose the information withheld under paragraphs 20(1)(b) and 20(1)(c) on specific pages, with the exception of the information that meets the requirements of subsection 19(1). DFO gave notice to the Commissioner that it would implement the order. The complaint is well founded.

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Feb 10
2026

Canada Revenue Agency, 5825-02188

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-000671
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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Feb 10
2026

Decision pursuant to 6.1, 2026 OIC 18

Institution
-
Section of the Act
30(1)(f)
Decision Type
Declining to act on a request
Summary

An institution submitted an application seeking the Information Commissioner’s approval to decline to act on an access request under subsection 6.1(1) of the Access to Information Act. In the institution’s opinion, the access request is an abuse of the right of access.

The Commissioner finds that the institution established that the access request at issue is an abuse of the right of access. Moreover, the circumstances warrant that she provides her approval to the institution to decline to act on this access request.

The application is granted.

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Feb 9
2026

Canadian Heritage, 5825-02488

Institution
Canadian Heritage
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00014
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. On January 19, 2026, I issued my initial report to the Minister, setting out my order. On February 3, 2026, the Director of the Access to Information and Privacy Secretariat gave me notice that Canadian Heritage would be implementing my order and advised that the records were under review for Cabinet confidences and that efforts were underway to expedite the consultation.
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Feb 9
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-01633

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00072
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
Feb 9
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-01632

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00071
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
Feb 9
2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-01631

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2025-00067
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
Feb 9
2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-00203

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00719 / 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 36 business days following the date of the final report.
Read more
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