Decisions

The complainant alleged that Canada Post had improperly withheld information under subsections 19(1) (personal information) and 18.1(1) (trade secrets of Canada Post), and paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request. The request was for the final version of a health and safety strategy report for Canada Post delivered by DuPont Sustainable (DSS) and any related invoicing. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The third party deferred to Canada Post’s position about the application of paragraph 20(1)(b). Canada Post could not show that certain information met all the requirements of subsection 18.1(1) and paragraph 20(1)(b). With respect to paragraph 20(1)(b), it did not show that some of the withheld information was not publicly available, that it was supplied by the third party, or that there was a reasonable expectation of confidentiality.  Under subsection 18.1(1), Canada Post did not show that the information was a trade secret or that it was the confidential financial, commercial, scientific or technical information of Canada Post.

The Information Commissioner ordered that Canada Post disclose certain information.

Canada Post gave notice to the Commissioner that it would implement the order.

The complaint is well founded.