The comprehensive archive of federal, provincial, and territorial commissioner decisions — each with a plain-language summary.
The OIC ordered Global Affairs Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day following the receipt of this final report..
OIC order issued to Department of Justice.
The complainant alleged that the Department of Justice Canada (Justice) failed to respond to an access request within the statutory time limit. The complainant also alleged that Justice improperly placed the request on hold and failed to meet its obligations to assist the requester. The Commissioner found that Justice improperly placed the request on hold and failed to assist the complainant. Justice also failed to respond within the time limit, leading to a deemed refusal. The Commissioner ordered Justice to remove the hold, provide a complete response by May 17, 2029, and provide regular updates and interim releases.
The complainant alleged that National Defence (DND) failed to respond to an access request within the 30-day period required by the Access to Information Act. The request concerned documentation related to unidentified objects shot down over Yukon and Lake Huron in February 2023. The Information Commissioner found that DND did not meet its response deadline and is deemed to have refused access. An order was issued requiring DND to provide a complete response within 36 business days.
The complainant alleged that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) failed to respond to an access request for documents concerning House of Commons committee studies related to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation within the extended time limit. The CRA acknowledged significant delays due to a backlog of records from one of its Offices of Primary Interest. The Information Commissioner found the complaint well-founded and ordered the CRA to provide a complete response by January 8, 2025. Recommendations were also made for improved internal processes and accountability for timely record provision.
The complainant alleged that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) unreasonably extended the time to respond to an access request for materials related to the sixth interprovincial crossing between Gatineau and Ottawa. The complainant also alleged that PSPC improperly regrouped this request with others to justify the extension. While the investigation found no improper regrouping, it determined that PSPC failed to justify the 768-day extension for processing the records. Consequently, the complaint was found to be well founded.
An institution applied to the Information Commissioner for approval to decline an access request, arguing it was vexatious, an abuse of the right to request, and made in bad faith. The Commissioner agreed that the request was vexatious. Consequently, the Commissioner granted the institution's application to decline to act on the request.
The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days after the date of the final report..
The complainant alleged that National Defence (DND) failed to respond to an access request for specific reports and recommendations within the 30-day timeframe required by the Access to Information Act. The investigation found that DND did not respond by the extended deadline and is therefore deemed to have refused access. The Commissioner ordered DND to complete the retrieval and provide a response to the request within 36 business days.
The OIC ordered Public Health Agency of Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days after the date of the final report..
The complainant alleged that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) unreasonably extended the time to respond to an access request for correspondence related to a specific standing offer. PHAC claimed an extension of 255 days due to the volume of records, citing a need for 180 days under paragraph 9(1)(a). The Commissioner found that PHAC failed to demonstrate that the 180-day extension was reasonable, as it did not show sufficient rigour in calculating the time needed. Consequently, the extension was deemed invalid, and PHAC was ordered to provide a complete response within 60 business days.
The OIC ordered Environment and Climate Change Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day after receipt of the final report..
The OIC ordered Global Affairs Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 60th business day following the receipt of my final report..
The complainant alleged that Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (Infrastructure Canada) improperly withheld information related to payment requests from Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group (SSLG). The request sought official documents from January 2016 to March 2019. While the complainant later narrowed the complaint, the investigation focused on exemptions related to third-party financial information and disclosure restrictions. The Commissioner found that only information concerning pricing and contractual relationships met the criteria for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(c).
The complainant alleged that the time National Defence (DND) took to respond to an access request regarding military equipment sent to Ukraine was unreasonable. The OIC found that DND did not meet the requirements for a valid time extension. DND was deemed to have refused access. Following discussions facilitated by the OIC, the complainant narrowed the scope of the request, and DND then estimated a six-month response time. The Commissioner ordered DND to provide a complete response by November 25, 2024.
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