Decision pursuant to 6.1, 2026 OIC 18
An institution applied for approval to decline processing an access request, arguing it was an abuse of the right of access due to its excessive breadth and the burden it would place on the small organization. The requested records spanned multiple years and covered broad categories related to rare diseases and medication coverage. The Information Commissioner agreed that the request was overly broad and burdensome, constituting an abuse of the right of access. The Commissioner also found that the institution had met its duty to assist the requester.
- Is the access request an abuse of the right of access under subsection 6.1(1) of the ATIA?
- Would responding to the request overburden the institution?
- Is the request overly broad?
- Did the institution meet its duty to assist the requester under subsection 4(2.1)?
Section 6.1 application granted
The Commissioner found that the institution established that the access request was an abuse of the right of access because it was overly broad and would overburden the institution, given its size and limited resources. The Commissioner also determined that the institution had made reasonable efforts to assist the requester.
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The institution is authorized to decline to act on the access request.
- s.6.1 ATIA
- s.4(2.1) ATIA
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