5823-02706, 5823-02707, 5823-02708, 5823-02710, 5823-02711, 5823-02712, 5823-02716, 5823-02717, 5823-02718, 5823-02720, 5823-02721, 5823-03994 and 5823-03998 — Canadian Heritage
The complainant alleged that Canadian Heritage (PCH) failed to conduct reasonable searches for records concerning registered lobbying communications from 2020-2021. The Information Commissioner found that while the Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs) initially tasked did their jobs, PCH did not involve all OPIs most likely to hold responsive records, specifically the Corporate Secretariat and the Digital and Creative Marketplace Frameworks. The Commissioner ordered PCH to task the relevant OPIs, conduct new searches, and provide access to any additional responsive records.
- Reasonableness of searches conducted by the institution.
- Proper identification and tasking of Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs) to conduct searches.
- Whether all relevant records were identified and located.
Complaint well founded — disclosure ordered
The Commissioner found that PCH did not conduct reasonable searches because not all OPIs most likely to hold relevant records were tasked with searching, specifically the Corporate Secretariat and the Digital and Creative Marketplace Frameworks, for the identified access requests.
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PCH was ordered to task the relevant OPIs, conduct new searches for additional responsive records, provide access to any identified records (unless exempt), and issue a new response to the complainant.
- s.30(1)(a) ATIA
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