The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) did not conduct a reasonable search in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act for All documents, memoranda, e-mails, correspondence, briefing notes, text messages, messages on Microsoft Teams or any other messaging platform, and any other records, including drafts, from April 1, 2024, to the present, respecting allegations concerning the ethics of an individual in relation to their associations with other individuals and organizations.

The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The investigation determined that not all of the responsible Offices of Primary Interest were tasked for the responsive records. PCO was unable to show that it conducted a reasonable search for all of the records responsive to the access request. A search by an Office of Primary Interest that was not initially tasked, located 142 pages of records relevant to the request.

The Information Commissioner ordered that PCO provide the subsequent response to the access request no later than 36 business days after the date of the Final Report.

PCO gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.