The request at the basis of the complaint was made to the RCMP on March 27, 2012, before the coming into force of the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act. It requested access to the Firearms Registry database.

The requester filed a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner after receiving a response from the RCMP alleging that:

1. That the information provided was incomplete (missing both columns and registrations);
2. That the RCMP did not justify the incomplete response;
3. That by destroying the responsive records, the RCMP obstructed his right of access, pursuant to section 67.1 of the Act.