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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.

Filters
Decision Type

1025 decisions found

Feb 28
2025

Privy Council Office, 5822-07491

Institution
Privy Council Office
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2022-00163
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 receipt of the final report.
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Feb 28
2025

Canadian Security Intelligence Service, 5824-01966

Institution
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
117-2024-113 (EA2024_0077702)
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 10, 2025.
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Feb 28
2025

Canada Border Services Agency, 5822-02574

Institution
Canada Border Services Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2021-26536 (ZA-2024-00687)
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
Feb 28
2025

Environment and Climate Change Canada, 5824-02596

Institution
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00075 (EA2024_0069910)
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 the date of my final report.
Read more
Feb 27
2025

Public Services and Procurement Canada, 5823-03156

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00246
Did the institution give notice it would implement the order?
Yes
Summary
Order: provide a complete response to the access request as soon as possible and no later than October 31, 2025.
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Feb 27
2025

National Defence, 5824-01988

Institution
National Defence
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2024-00688
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
Feb 27
2025

Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 5824-00884

Institution
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-00159
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 18, 2028.
Read more
Feb 27
2025

Canada Revenue Agency, 5823-04593

Institution
Canada Revenue Agency
Section of the Act
7
Decision Type
Delay in responding to a request
Order
Institution file #
A-2023-175342
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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Feb 27
2025

Public Services and Procurement Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 14

Institution
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Section of the Act
23
Decision Type
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) had improperly withheld information under section 23 (solicitor-client and litigation privilege) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request. The request was for all records related to the negotiation of the 1991 lease between Bourque, Pierre et Fils and the government for the Louis St-Laurent Building. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

PSPC applied section 23 in a blanket manner, withholding the entirety of the 96,781 pages of records, citing both grounds of section 23: solicitor-client privilege and litigation privilege. Although some of the information meets the requirements of solicitor-client privilege, PSPC did not demonstrate that any information met the requirements under litigation privilege.

The Information Commissioner ordered that PSPC disclose certain and reconsider its discretion under section 23 where the requirements of solicitor-client privilege were met. PSPC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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Feb 27
2025

Environment and Climate Change Canada (Re), 2025 OIC 13

Institution
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Section of the Act
16
19(1)
20(1)(d)
21
23
Decision Type
Order
Final report
Summary

The complainant alleged that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) had improperly withheld information under subsection 16(2) (facilitating the commission of an offence), subsection 19(1) (personal information), paragraph 20(1)(d) (negotiations by a third party), paragraph 21(1)(a) (advice or recommendations), paragraph 21(1)(b) (accounts of consultations or deliberations) and section 23 (solicitor-client and litigation privilege) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request. The request was for records related to Taseko Mines Limited’s (Taseko) New Prosperity Project from July 2012 to March 2014. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The parties did not demonstrate that the requirements of paragraphs 20(1)(d), 21(1)(a), 21(1)(b) or section 23 were met for certain information. Where the requirements of discretionary exemptions were met, ECCC demonstrated that it had reasonably exercised its discretion.

The Information Commissioner ordered that ECCC disclose certain information where the parties had not demonstrated that the requirements of paragraphs 20(1)(d), 21(1)(a), 21(1)(b) or section 23 were met. ECCC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order.

The complaint is well founded.

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