5821-04307 — Indigenous Services Canada

The complainant alleged that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) failed to conduct a reasonable search for records related to the National Priority Ranking Framework, the Priority Framework for Water and Wastewater Projects, and long-term First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans, including internal correspondence, from 2014 onwards. The investigation revealed that the Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs) initially tasked with the search might not have been the most appropriate ones, and that additional OPIs likely held responsive records. ISC was unable to provide concrete details about the search parameters or sufficient documentation of their efforts. The Commissioner concluded that ISC did not conduct a reasonable search. Consequently, the Commissioner ordered ISC to conduct a new, expanded search and provide a new response to the complainant, either granting access to any additional records found or explaining why no such records were located.