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

1097 decisions found

Apr 11
2024

Public Services and Procurement Canada, 5823-02433

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00154
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than July 31, 2024.
Read more
Apr 11
2024

Public Health Agency of Canada, 5822-01694

Institution
Public Health Agency of Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
PHAC-A-2021-000748
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 60th business day after receipt of the final report.
Read more
Apr 8
2024

Privy Council Office, 5822-01984

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2022-00029
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
Apr 5
2024

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 5823-00334

Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2022-00722
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 120th business day after receipt of the final report.
Read more
Apr 5
2024

Global Affairs Canada, 5823-00797

Institution
Global Affairs Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2020-00116
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
No response
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day following the date of this final report.
Read more
Apr 5
2024

Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 5823-01721

Institution
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00068
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day following receipt of the final report.
Read more
Apr 5
2024

Public Services and Procurement Canada, 5823-02112

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00087
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 60th business day following receipt of the final report.
Read more
Apr 1
2024

Library and Archives Canada (Re), 2024 OIC 12

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

The complainant alleged that the length of 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 was unreasonable. The request was for all Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) records relating to project Anecdote. The complaint falls under paragraph 30(1)(c) of the Act.

LAC extended the time period by 23,725 days under paragraphs 9(1)(a) and (b).

LAC identified 780,000 pages of paper and microfilm records responsive to this request, that will have to be converted into an electronic format.

LAC did not demonstrate why the request would be processed by a single employee, nor why the tasks were calculated consecutively rather than concurrently.

Furthermore, not all of the records have been retrieved and analyzed yet, so LAC was not in a position to specify the exact number of records that would have to be sent for consultation.

LAC did not show that the extension of time is for a reasonable period, having regard to the circumstances. Therefore, the extension of time is invalid and LAC is deemed to have refused to give access to the requested records pursuant to subsection 10(3).

The complaint is well founded.

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Apr 1
2024

Decision pursuant to 6.1, 2024 OIC 60

Institution
-
Section of the Act
6.1
Decision Type
Declining to act on a request
Summary

An institution made an application to the Information Commissioner for approval to decline to act on an access request under subsection 6.1(1) of the Access to Information Act. The institution submitted that the request constitutes an abuse of the right of access.

The Information Commissioner found that the institution established that the request is an abuse of the right of access. In addition, the Commissioner found that the circumstances warranted she provides her approval to the institution to decline to act on the access request at issue.

The application is granted.

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Mar 29
2024

Privy Council Office, 5822-01691

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2020-00583
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request on or before July 5, 2024.
Read more
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