Canadian Privacy Decisions

The complainant alleged that the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) improperly withheld information related to the lease or sale of its assets, citing exemptions under paragraphs 18(a), 18(b), 18(c), subsection 19(1), and paragraphs 20(1)(b), 20(1)(c) of the Access to Information Act. The request was specifically for company names and amounts. PAPA failed to demonstrate that the withheld information met the requirements of these exemptions. Consequently, the Information Commissioner ordered PAPA to disclose the requested information concerning company names and amounts.

• Whether PAPA improperly withheld information regarding company names and amounts under various sections of the Access to Information Act.
• Whether the withheld information met the criteria for exemptions under paragraphs 18(a), 18(b), 18(c), subsection 19(1), and paragraphs 20(1)(b), 20(1)(c) of the ATIA.
• Whether PAPA discharged its burden to prove that the exemptions applied to the withheld information.
• The confidentiality and commercial value of the leased premises information.

The complainant alleged that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) improperly withheld records related to the recovery strategy for the whitebark pine under several sections of the Access to Information Act. The Information Commissioner found that ECCC failed to demonstrate that certain exemptions were met, particularly regarding third-party information and the severing of factual information from exempt advice or deliberations. The Commissioner ordered ECCC to disclose specific records and re-exercise discretion on others, and ECCC agreed to comply with the order.

• Application of exemptions for personal information (s. 19)
• Application of exemptions for third-party information (s. 20(1)(b))
• Application of exemptions for advice/deliberations (s. 21(1)(a) and (b))
• Application of exemptions for federal-provincial affairs (s. 14)