The complainant alleged that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) had improperly withheld information under subsection 19(1) (personal information) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to a request for time sheets of CRA employees from April 19 – May 3, 2023. The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

CRA showed that the time span of the information requested coincided with the period of the Public Service Alliance of Canada labour strike. As a result, the release of the User ID and PRI, if disclosed alongside the other time sheet information, would reveal an employee’s personal choice to either participate in the strike or cross the picket line.

CRA was not able to demonstrate that that there is a serious possibility that disclosing the remaining time sheet information would lead to the identification of the individuals to whom the information relates.

The Information Commissioner ordered that CRA disclose the information that does not meet the requirements of 19(1).

CRA gave notice to the Commissioner that it would partially implement the order.

The complaint is well founded.