The complainant alleged that Transport Canada had improperly withheld information under subsection 19(1) (personal information), paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information) and paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request. The request was for records relating to a workplace fatality in Point-Saint-Charles on January 6, 2021. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The complainant also alleged that Transport Canada had not conducted a reasonable search for records in response to the same access request. This allegation was resolved during the investigation.

Transport Canada and the third party did not establish that certain information met all the requirements of paragraphs 20(1)(b) or 20(1)(c). The Information Commissioner ordered that Transport Canada disclose certain information withheld under these third-party exemptions. Transport Canada gave notice to the Commissioner that it would likely be in a position to comply with the order. The complaint is well founded.