Decisions

Canadian Privacy Decisions

The comprehensive archive of Canadian privacy decisions from federal, provincial, and territorial commissioners — with AI-summarized plain-language summaries for every decision.

1,329 decisions matching

Jurisdiction

Federal (Canada)Ontario British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba QuebecIn Progress Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador

Governing law

Outcome

OIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)Well-founded Well-founded & resolved Well-founded & conditionally resolved Well-founded & unresolved Not well-founded Action warranted s.6.1 Application Granted (refusal authorized)s.6.1 Application Denied (must respond)Settled Resolved Early-resolved Discontinued Withdrawn Declined to investigate No jurisdiction

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Saskatchewan

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Health Information Protection Act

INVESTIGATION REPORT 162-2023 — Queen City Medical Specialists

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Ontario

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Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Order PO-4473

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245821-06791· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5821-06791

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request by March 22, 2024..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245820-03535· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5820-03535

The OIC ordered Library and Archives Canada to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245822-07474· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Canadian Heritage, 5822-07474

The OIC ordered Canadian Heritage to provide a complete response to the access request no later than the 36th business day after receipt of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245820-03533· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5820-03533

The OIC ordered Library and Archives Canada to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245820-03536· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5820-03536

The OIC ordered Library and Archives Canada to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 8, 20245820-03537· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Library and Archives Canada, 5820-03537

The OIC ordered Library and Archives Canada to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information Acts.6.1 Application Granted (refusal authorized)

Jan 6, 20242024 OIC 62· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Decision pursuant to 6.1, 2024 OIC 62

A federal institution

An institution applied to the Information Commissioner for approval to decline an access request, arguing it was an abuse of the right to access information. The Commissioner agreed, finding the request constituted an abuse of the right to make a request. Consequently, the Commissioner granted the institution's application to decline to act on the request.

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information Acts.6.1 Application Granted (refusal authorized)

Jan 6, 20242024 OIC 63· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Decision pursuant to 6.1, 2024 OIC 63

A federal institution

An institution applied for approval to decline to act on five access requests, arguing they were vexatious and an abuse of the right to access information. The Information Commissioner found that two of the requests (A-2023-00305 and A-2023-00314) were indeed an abuse of the right to access. Consequently, the Commissioner approved the institution's decision to decline to act on those two specific requests. However, the institution failed to prove that the remaining three requests (A-2023-00303, A-2023-00308 and A-2023-00310) were vexatious or an abuse of the right to access.

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 5, 20245823-01551· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Employment and Social Development Canada, 5823-01551

The OIC ordered Employment and Social Development Canada to provide a complete response no later than the 36th business day after receipt of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 4, 20245822-05401· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5822-05401

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 4, 20245822-05402· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

Privy Council Office, 5822-05402

The OIC ordered Privy Council Office to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 4, 20245822-07229· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

National Defence, 5822-07229

The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request on the 36th business day following the date of the final report..

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Federal (Canada)Access to Information ActOIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding)

Jan 4, 20245822-07643· Indexed Apr 21, 2026

National Defence, 5822-07643

The OIC ordered National Defence to provide a complete response to the access request on or before January 12, 2024..

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Outcome Notes

Federal rulings come from two regulators with different statutory authority — outcome filters cover both.

OIC Order (ATIA s.36.1, binding) — Since June 2019 (Bill C-58) the Information Commissioner can issue binding orders requiring disclosure or reconsideration. Enforceable after 31/41 business days unless reviewed by the Federal Court (s.41).

Well-Founded — finding that the complaint is well-founded. For OIC: ATIA s.37(1)(a) finding (may be paired with a s.36.1 order). For OPC: Privacy Act s.35(1) / PIPEDA s.13(1) advisory finding — recommendations only, no binding order-making power. Includes well-founded, well-founded & resolved, well-founded & conditionally resolved, well-founded & unresolved.

Not Well-Founded — no contravention found.

s.6.1 Application— the OIC's response to a head's application for authorization to refuse a frivolous, vexatious, or bad-faith access request. Granted = institution may refuse; Denied = institution must respond.

Settled / Resolved / Early-resolved — OPC matter resolved during or before formal findings without a contravention finding.

Declined to investigate / No jurisdiction — Procedural close (Privacy Act s.34, PIPEDA discretion, or scope outside the Acts).

References: ATIA s.36.1 · OPC disposition definitions

About This Archive

Breach of Privacy is the one-stop archive for Canadian privacy decisions from federal, provincial, and territorial commissioners. Each decision includes an AI-generated plain-language summary. Always verify against the official source document.