Canadian privacy & access decisions

The complainant alleged that the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) improperly withheld information related to funding applications from The Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The exemptions cited were for personal information, and confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific, or technical information, and information affecting third-party negotiations. Neither the institution nor the third parties provided sufficient evidence to justify withholding the information. The Information Commissioner found the complaint well-founded and ordered the release of the records.

• Whether the withheld information met the requirements for exemption under subsection 19(1) (personal information) of the ATIA.
• Whether the withheld information met the requirements for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information) of the ATIA.
• Whether the withheld information met the requirements for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(c) (financial impact on a third party) of the ATIA.
• Whether the withheld information met the requirements for exemption under paragraph 20(1)(d) (negotiations by a third party) of the ATIA.