3218-00682 — Library and Archives Canada
The complainant alleged that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) claimed an unreasonable 29,200-day time extension to process a request for Royal Canadian Mounted Police records. LAC identified 780,000 responsive pages but did not meet the requirements for a valid time extension under paragraph 9(1)(a) of the Access to Information Act. As a result, LAC is deemed to have refused access under subsection 10(3). The Information Commissioner found the complaint well-founded.
- Reasonableness of the time extension claimed under paragraph 9(1)(a) of the ATIA.
- Whether LAC met the criteria for claiming a time extension due to volume.
- LAC's failure to provide adequate justification for the length of the extension.
- Application of subsection 10(3) regarding deemed refusal of access.
Complaint well founded — deemed refusal of access
The Commissioner determined that LAC failed to meet the specific criteria outlined in paragraph 9(1)(a) of the ATIA for claiming a time extension, particularly in adequately justifying the length of the extension and demonstrating its necessity without unreasonably interfering with operations. Consequently, LAC was deemed to have refused access under subsection 10(3).
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The Commissioner recommended that the Minister of Canadian Heritage complete the processing of the access request and provide a response forthwith.
- s.9(1)(a) ATIA
- s.10(3) ATIA
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