5824-03298 — 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 all IAC assessments concerning Russia and former Soviet Union countries from 1992. The Information Commissioner found that PCO's delay was unacceptable, noting that it took over a year to initiate consultations with other government departments. Furthermore, the Commissioner deemed PCO's proposed three-month internal consultation period following the receipt of external consultation responses as unjustified and unreasonable. Consequently, the Commissioner ordered PCO to provide a complete response within 60 business days and recommended a review of PCO's internal consultation and approval processes. PCO confirmed it would implement the order.
- 1Whether the institution responded within the extended time limits under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act
- 2Whether the institution's processing delay was acceptable
- 3Whether the institution's estimated response date was reasonable
- 4Whether the institution's internal consultation and approval processes were efficient
- Timeliness / deemed refusal: Deemed refusal upheld
- Consultation period: Proposed consultation period deemed unreasonable
- Response timeframe: Institution ordered to respond within 60 business days
- Internal processes: Review of internal processes recommended
Complaint well founded — disclosure ordered
The Privy Council Office failed to respond to the access request within the extended period, resulting in a deemed refusal. The Commissioner found the institution's processing delays, including taking over a year to initiate consultations and allotting an unjustified three-month period for internal consultations, to be unacceptable and unreasonable.
The Commissioner ordered the Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days following the date of the final report, and recommended that the Clerk of the Privy Council review PCO’s internal consultation and approval processes.
- s.7 ATIA
- 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.
The OIC order issued after this final report — sets out the institution's compliance obligations.
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