The complainant alleged that Indigenous Services Canada did not conduct a reasonable search in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act for entries found in the Service Administration Log. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Indigenous Services Canada advised that at the time the response to the access request was provided, no records had been located. Indigenous Services Canada informed the Office of the Information Commissioner that 3,286 pages of records were received by Indigenous Services Canada’s access to information and privacy unit after the response had been sent to the requester.

The Information Commissioner ordered that the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada provide a new response to the complainant by May 31, 2025.

The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.