The complainant alleged that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) had not conducted a reasonable search for records in response to an access request under the Access to Information Act. The request was for records related to a video posted to Facebook on June 18, 2024. The allegation falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Indigenous Services Canada’s Communications and Public Affairs unit identified that during the search for records, it had removed records deemed to be drafts, per its interpretation of the access request. As a result of the investigation, Indigenous Services Canada located 1,087 additional pages of records.

The Commissioner ordered that the Minister of Indigenous Services process the additional records and provide a new response within 36 business days.

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

The complaint is well founded.