5824-00242 — Privy Council Office
The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) failed to respond to an access request within the extended timeframe, constituting a deemed refusal under the Access to Information Act. The request sought various records from September 1, 2022, onwards, concerning committee studies of foreign election interference. PCO had extended the response period by 330 days, making the deadline March 14, 2024, but failed to respond by this date. The investigation found that PCO did not meet its obligation, attributing the delay to a large volume of records (5,988 pages) and the ATIP office's failure to initiate timely consultations with eight other government departments. The Information Commissioner ordered PCO to provide a complete response by November 15, 2024. PCO subsequently notified the Commissioner that it would implement the order and respond by the specified date. The complaint was found to be well founded.
- 1Whether the institution responded within the extended period under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act
- 2Whether the institution is deemed to have refused access under subsection 10(3) of the Act due to delay
- Timeliness / deemed refusal: Deemed refusal upheld
- Response deadline: New response deadline ordered
- Complaint finding: Complaint well-founded
Complaint well founded — disclosure ordered
The Privy Council Office failed to respond to the access request by the extended deadline of March 14, 2024, thereby being deemed to have refused access under subsection 10(3) of the Act. The delay was caused by the volume of records and untimely consultations.
The Information Commissioner ordered the Clerk of the Privy Council to provide a complete response to the access request by November 15, 2024.
- s.9(1) ATIA
- s.10(3) ATIA
- s.30(1)(a) ATIA
This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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