Canadian privacy & access decisions

The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) failed to conduct a reasonable search for records related to allegations concerning the ethics of an individual. The request sought all documents from April 1, 2024, to the present, respecting these allegations. Initially, PCO tasked several Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs), all of which provided nil responses, leading PCO to inform the complainant that no records were found. However, the Information Commissioner's investigation revealed that not all relevant OPIs were tasked. Upon further inquiry by the OIC, PCO additionally tasked its Communications and Consultations secretariat, which located 142 pages of responsive records. The Commissioner found that PCO had not conducted a reasonable search initially because not all responsible OPIs were tasked. The complaint was deemed well-founded, and PCO was ordered to complete the retrieval and processing of all responsive records and provide a supplementary response within 36 business days.

• Whether the institution conducted a reasonable search for records under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act