Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Re), 2026 OIC 29
The complainant alleged that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) unreasonably extended the time to respond to an access request for Microsoft Teams messages and related policies. The investigation found that ISED's justification for a 390-day extension was inadequate, as it failed to demonstrate a link between the reasons for the extension and its length, or that a serious attempt was made to assess this length. The OIC also noted significant delays in processing. The Commissioner ordered ISED to provide a complete response within 60 business days.
- Reasonableness of time extension under subsection 9(1)
- Justification for length of extension for record volume and operational interference
- Justification for length of extension for consultations
- Deemed refusal under subsection 10(3) due to invalid time extension
Complaint well founded — disclosure ordered
The Commissioner found that ISED failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the length of the claimed time extensions, making them unreasonable and invalid. This resulted in a deemed refusal of access.
AI-generated summary for reference only. Always verify against the official decision ↗
The Minister of Industry was ordered to provide a complete response to the access request within 60 business days following the date of the final report.
- s.9(1) ATIA
- s.10(3) ATIA
- para 30(1)(c) ATIA
This decision is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.