Parks Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 25

The complainant alleged that Parks Canada failed to respond to an access request within the extended time limit under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act. The request sought records related to human activity and coastal erosion impacts on culturally significant areas within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, and records leading to the park's closure decision. Parks Canada received the request on May 5, 2025, and extended the response period to October 27, 2025, but failed to respond by this date, leading to a deemed refusal under subsection 10(3). The institution attributed the delay to staffing shortages, technical issues with redaction software, and the need for extensive third-party consultations, particularly with First Nations due to the sensitive nature of the records. The Commissioner found the technical delays unacceptable and emphasized that staffing issues and competing priorities do not justify delays under the Act. Parks Canada committed to providing a partial response by February 27, 2026, and a complete response by April 30, 2026. The Commissioner ordered Parks Canada to provide a complete response by April 30, 2026, which the institution agreed to implement.