Canadian privacy & access decisions

The institution applied for approval to decline acting on an access request for all internal correspondence over seven years, arguing it was an abuse of the right of access. The requester did not make submissions. The Commissioner found the request, due to its overbroad scope in combination with the institution's small size and limited resources, constituted an abuse of the right of access, and granted the institution's application.

• Whether the request constitutes an abuse of the right of access under subsection 6.1(1) of the ATIA.
• Whether the institution fulfilled its duty to assist the requester under subsection 4(2.1) of the ATIA.