5820-03930 — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Laurentian Bank of Canada

The complainant alleged that CMHC improperly withheld records regarding mortgage loans insured or sold by Laurentian Bank. CMHC withheld information claiming exemptions related to government financial/commercial information, personal information, and third-party financial/commercial information, and negotiations. The Information Commissioner found that while some information qualified for exemption under subsection 20(1)(b) (third-party information), other withheld information did not meet the exemption's requirements. The Commissioner ordered CMHC to disclose certain information that was not supplied by a third party. CMHC has indicated it will not comply with parts of the order and intends to apply to the Federal Court.

• Whether information withheld by CMHC qualified for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information).
• Whether information withheld by CMHC qualified for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party).
• Whether information withheld by CMHC qualified for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(d) (negotiations by a third party).
• Whether CMHC's own observations and work product could be withheld as information supplied by a third party.