The complainant alleged that Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC had improperly withheld information under paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information), paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party), and section 23 (solicitor-client and litigation privilege) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to an access request for the agreement, land claim settlement signed in the year 2000 between the federal Canadian government and the Squamish band.

Neither CIRNAC nor the third party showed that the information met the requirements of the exemptions - in particular how there was a clear and direct connection between the disclosure of any specific information and a risk of harm, that the information could result in a reasonable expectation of interference with negotiations, or that privilege applies. The Information Commissioner ordered CIRNAC to disclose the records in their entirety. CIRNAC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would not be disclosing the records.