The complainant alleged that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) had improperly withheld information under the following provisions of the Access to Information Act:

• subsection 13(1) (confidential information from government bodies);
• section 14 (federal-provincial affairs);
• paragraph 16(1)(c) (conduct of investigations);
• subsection 16(2) (facilitating the commission of an offence);
• subsection 19(1) (personal information);
• paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information);
• paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party);
• paragraph 21(1)(a) (advice or recommendations);
• paragraph 21(1)(b) (accounts of consultations or deliberations);
• paragraph 21(1)(c) (positions or plans developed for negotiations);
• paragraph 21(1)(d) (plans related to personnel management or administration);
• section 23 (solicitor-client and litigation privilege);
• subsection 24(1) (disclosure restricted by another law); and
• paragraph 68(a) (material published or available for purchase).

This was in response to an access request for information related to IAAC’s 2020-2021 inspection plan. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The parties did not demonstrate that the requirements of the applied exemptions were met for certain information. IAAC did not provide any information indicating that it had considered its obligation to exercise its discretion to decide whether to disclose the information.

The Information Commissioner ordered that IAAC disclose certain information where the parties had not demonstrated that the requirements of the exemptions were met. IAAC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would comply with the order. The complaint is well founded.