Federal (Canada) Privacy Decisions

The Information Commissioner initiated a systemic investigation into Library and Archives Canada (LAC) due to consistently delayed responses to access requests over several years. The investigation found that nearly 80% of requests completed by LAC during the period under review did not meet the timeframes stipulated by the Access to Information Act. The Commissioner made ten recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and subsequently tabled a special report in Parliament highlighting issues at LAC and broader challenges within the access to information system.

• Timeliness of access to information requests
• Consultation processes between institutions
• Lack of a government-wide declassification framework

This report details a systemic investigation into how the Department of National Defence (DND) processed access to information requests between January 1, 2017, and December 21, 2018. The investigation examined six key offices and DND's ATIP Directorate, reviewing their internal processes, training, and statistics. The Commissioner made nine recommendations to the Minister of National Defence to address identified shortcomings, which the Minister accepted and agreed to implement.

• Timeliness of access to information request processing
• Adherence to legislative obligations under the Access to Information Act
• Effectiveness of internal procedures and training for ATIP staff
• Improvement of ATIP compliance metrics

This is a systemic investigation report that examined how federal institutions handle access to information requests related to scientists and scientific information. The investigation was initiated by a complaint from the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria and Democracy Watch. It concluded that while some progress had been made, challenges remained in ensuring timely and complete access to information concerning scientists within federal institutions.

• Timeliness of access to information requests concerning scientists
• Completeness of information provided in response to requests about scientists
• Impact of institutional practices on the right of access to information regarding scientists

This document is a systemic investigation into Parks Canada's approach to processing access requests, completed in 2015-2016. It highlights how cooperation with the Information Commissioner's Office can lead to positive systemic changes in how access rights are managed. The report uses Parks Canada's practices as an example for improvement.

• Effectiveness of Parks Canada's access to information request processing
• Impact of leadership and collaboration on access rights
• Systemic changes in access to information practices

The requester sought access to the Firearms Registry database from the RCMP on March 27, 2012. The RCMP provided an incomplete response, which the requester argued was not justified and that the destruction of records obstructed their access rights. The OIC investigated the complaint.

• Incompleteness of the provided information
• Lack of justification for incomplete response
• Destruction of records obstructing right of access under section 67.1 of the ATIA

The Information Commissioner initiated an investigation into Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) regarding the processing of eight access to information requests made between July 2008 and January 2010. The investigation focused on potential interference in how these requests were handled. The Commissioner has reported her findings.

• Possibility of interference in the processing of access to information requests
• Timeliness and completeness of response by PWGSC

This systemic investigation examined the use and preservation of instant messages, such as BlackBerry PIN messages, on government devices. The investigation was prompted by complaints of missing records, including a case where devices were destroyed before an access request could be fulfilled. The OIC found that the use of instant messaging posed a risk to the right of access to information.

• Use and preservation of instant messaging on government devices
• Impact of instant messaging on the right of access to information
• Destruction of devices containing potential records
• Timeliness of access to information