Canadian privacy & access decisions

The complainant alleged that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) had improperly withheld information related to its 2020-2021 inspection plan. The IAAC withheld information under numerous sections of the Access to Information Act, including exemptions related to federal-provincial affairs, investigations, third-party commercial information, and advice/deliberations. The Information Commissioner found that the IAAC failed to demonstrate that the exemptions were properly applied in many instances and did not adequately exercise its discretion to disclose information. Consequently, the Commissioner ordered the IAAC to disclose significant portions of the withheld information.

• Improper application of exemptions under the Access to Information Act
• Failure to demonstrate reasonable expectation of harm for withheld information
• Inadequate exercise of discretion to disclose information
• Application of third-party commercial and financial information exemptions