Decisions

Canadian Privacy Decisions

The comprehensive archive of Canadian privacy decisions from federal, provincial, and territorial commissioners — with AI-summarized plain-language summaries for every decision.

1,620 decisions matching

Jurisdiction

Federal (Canada)Ontario British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba QuebecIn Progress Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador

Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActNot well-founded

Jan 8, 20265824-03656· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

5824-03656 — Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada

The complainant alleged that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) failed to respond to an access request within the 30-day timeframe. The request sought extensive information on Métis Nation land titles, treaties, and communications with Indigenous organizations. LAC determined the request was too broad and lacked specificity for their employees to identify records with reasonable effort, and thus did not meet the requirements of section 6 of the Access to Information Act. The Information Commissioner agreed that the request was too vague and did not require LAC to respond.

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 6, 20265825-01196· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5825-01196

The OIC ordered Library and Archives Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 6, 20265825-02530· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

National Defence, 5825-02530

The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 60 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 6, 20265825-02090· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 5825-02090

The OIC ordered Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActWell-founded

Jan 6, 20265825-01230· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

5825-01230 — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Department of Justice and Public Services and Procurement Canada

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The complainant alleged that Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) took an unreasonable time extension for an access request and improperly processed two requests as one. The request concerned updated consultation agreements and related internal government records. The Information Commissioner found the time extension for consultations with the Department of Justice unreasonable, citing excessive delays and lack of justification for the 90-day period. However, the Commissioner determined that CIRNAC was justified in processing the two requests as a single request.

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20265825-01332· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01332

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report.

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20265825-01336· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01336

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20265825-01410· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01410

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20265825-01339· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01339

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20265825-01335· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01335

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 2, 20265825-02599· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Veterans Affairs Canada, 5825-02599

The OIC ordered Veterans Affairs Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 2, 20265825-01337· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5825-01337

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 72 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 2, 20265824-02456· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Global Affairs Canada, 5824-02456

The OIC ordered Global Affairs Canada to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of this final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Dec 30, 20255825-01941· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

National Defence, 5825-01941

The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Dec 30, 20255825-01748· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

National Defence, 5825-01748

The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days following the date of the final report..

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Outcome Notes

Federal rulings come from two regulators with different statutory authority — outcome filters cover both.

OIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding) — Since June 2019 (Bill C-58) the Information Commissioner can issue binding orders requiring disclosure or reconsideration. Enforceable after 31/41 business days unless reviewed by the Federal Court (s.41).

Well-Founded — finding that the complaint is well-founded. For OIC: ATIA s.37(1)(a) finding (may be paired with a s.36.1 order). For OPC: Privacy Act s.35(1) / PIPEDA s.13(1) advisory finding — recommendations only, no binding order-making power. Includes well-founded, well-founded & resolved, well-founded & conditionally resolved, well-founded & unresolved.

Not Well-Founded — no contravention found.

s.6.1 Application— the OIC's response to a head's application for authorization to refuse a frivolous, vexatious, or bad-faith access request. Granted = institution may refuse; Denied = institution must respond.

Settled / Resolved / Early-resolved — OPC matter resolved during or before formal findings without a contravention finding.

Declined to investigate / No jurisdiction — Procedural close (Privacy Act s.34, PIPEDA discretion, or scope outside the Acts).

References: ATIA s.36.1 · OPC disposition definitions

About This Archive

Breach of Privacy is the one-stop archive for Canadian privacy decisions from federal, provincial, and territorial commissioners. Each decision includes an AI-generated plain-language summary. Always verify against the official source document.