Canadian privacy & access decisions

An anonymous complainant alleged that the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), as the administrator of the federal access to information system, failed to provide adequate support to government institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complainant argued that this failure impeded the right of access to government information and was contrary to the principles of openness and transparency. The OIC's investigation reviewed over 5,000 pages of emails and guidance documents from TBS, covering the period from mid-March 2020 to June 22, 2020. The investigation found that TBS actively reminded institutions of their obligations, clarified responsibilities, and addressed misinterpretations. TBS also collected and shared data on institutions' operational capacities and provided tailored support to those facing significant challenges. Given TBS's limited authority over institutions' day-to-day operations, the Commissioner concluded that the support provided was adequate. Therefore, the complaint was not well founded.

• Whether the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provided adequate support to government institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Whether the alleged lack of support impeded the right of access to government information
• Whether the alleged lack of support was contrary to the principles of openness and transparency