5820-00156 — Natural Resources Canada

The complainant alleged that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) failed to conduct a reasonable search for driving data, including GPS data and driver logbook entries from its fleet vehicles, for three specific time periods. The OIC's investigation found that while NRCan's Office of Primary Interest conducted a search of corporate repositories, NRCan also had a responsibility to retrieve GPS data stored with a third-party data storage company. NRCan conceded that this data, though not in its physical possession, was under its control according to the Access to Information Act. Consequently, NRCan retrieved the GPS records and located additional logbook entries, which were subsequently provided to the complainant during the investigation. The Commissioner concluded that NRCan's initial search was not reasonable as it failed to include records under its control held by a third party. The complaint was found to be well founded.