3217-00062 — Privy Council Office
The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) improperly withheld records from 1959 under exemptions related to confidential information from government bodies and international affairs. PCO initially withheld information but later agreed to disclose most of it, continuing to withhold specific details like Liaison Officers' titles and dissemination markings. The Information Commissioner found that PCO did not properly apply the exemptions and recommended full disclosure, except for Liaison Officers' titles. PCO indicated it would not implement the recommendation.
- Proper application of subsection 13(1) (confidential information from government bodies)
- Proper application of subsection 15(1) (international affairs, national security, defence)
- Whether disclosure would cause reasonable expectation of harm
- PCO's exercise of discretion in withholding information
Complaint well founded — Institution did not properly apply exemptions
The Commissioner found that the Privy Council Office failed to demonstrate that the withheld information met the requirements of subsections 13(1) or 15(1) of the Access to Information Act, as previous disclosures and publicly available information discredited PCO's claims of potential harm. The institution also did not provide sufficient evidence to support its assertions regarding confidentiality or reasonable expectation of harm.
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The Commissioner recommended that PCO disclose the records in their entirety, with the exception of the names of Liaison Officers from other allied countries, and provide a new response within 60 business days.
- s.13(1) ATIA
- s.15(1) ATIA
- s.30(1)(a) ATIA
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