5825-00996 — Environment and Climate Change Canada
The complainant alleged that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) failed to respond to an access request for records concerning the "Cedar LNG" project within the extended timeframe. The investigation found that ECCC did not respond by the deadline, and the delay was attributed to internal offices taking too long to provide records. The Information Commissioner found the complaint well-founded, ordering ECCC to provide interim responses and a complete response by March 16, 2026, and recommended improvements to internal processes for timely record submission.
- Failure to respond within the statutory time limits.
- Timeliness of internal record retrieval by Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs).
- Adequacy of ECCC's processes for handling access to information requests.
- Balancing the need for consultations with the right to timely access.
Complaint well founded — disclosure ordered
The Commissioner determined that ECCC failed to respond to the access request within the extended time period as required by the Act. Significant delays by internal departments in providing records contributed to this failure. ECCC was found to have contravened its obligations under the Access to Information Act.
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The Commissioner ordered ECCC to issue interim responses for completed documents and provide a complete response by March 16, 2026.
- subsection 9(1) ATIA
- subsection 10(3) ATIA
- paragraph 30(1)(a) ATIA
- sections 27 ATIA
- sections 28 ATIA
This is a summary of a decision by the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada and is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice.