2021–22 Annual Report on the Access to Information Act

From April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022

Click to view the Report in PDF.


Table of Content


Introduction

The Access to Information Act (ATIA – the Act) gives Canadians the broad legal right to information contained in federal government records.

The Act provides government institutions with 30 days to respond to access requests. Additional time may be granted if there are many records to examine, other government agencies to be consulted, or third parties to be notified. Access rights are subject to specific and limited exemptions.

This annual report to Parliament is submitted by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada (the Commissioner) pursuant to section 72 of the ATIA. On April 15, 2007, the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act came into force. It created the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada (the Office). The new legislation replaced the Treasury Board Policy on the Internal Disclosure of Information Concerning Wrongdoing in the Workplace.

The Office is mandated to establish a safe, independent and confidential process for public servants and members of the public to disclose potential wrongdoing in the federal public sector. The Office also deals with reprisal complaints from public servants coming from their disclosures or their participation in related investigations.

The Commissioner is an independent Agent of Parliament.

Description of the Institution’s Structure

The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Coordinator is the only employee dedicated, on a part-time basis, to fulfil the ATIA responsibilities. The Coordinator is assisted by a contractor for the processing of the requests, for training and education, and for reporting activities.

Delegation

The Commissioner, as the head of the government institution, has designated, pursuant to section 73 of the ATIA, the persons holding the positions set out in the delegation order, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers, duties or functions of the Commissioner as specified therein. A copy of the delegation order is included in Appendix A.

Interpretation of the Annual Statistical Report

Appendix B provides a statistical report on the ATIA applications processed by the Office between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

No formal requests were received and closed during this reporting period. However, two informal requests were received and processed within the legal timeframe. These requests originated from the public and no records were required to be released.

No fees were collected nor waived and no translations were required to respond to the requests.

No requests of a vexatious, bad faith or abusive of right nature were received.

Twenty consultations consisting of 62 pages were received from other federal government institutions and processed within the allocated timeframe. No exemptions were recommended to be applied under the ATIA. No consultation requests were received from other sources including consultations on Cabinet Confidences.

The Office spent some $11,750 in resources administering the ATIA.

Five-Year Trend of Access Requests

Fiscal Year New Requests Received Total Requests Processed *
2017–18 2 2
2018–19 0 0
2019–20 3 3
2020–21 6 6
2021–22 0 0

Interpretation of the Supplemental Statistical Report

Appendix C provides a statistical report on the COVID-19 measures applied by the Office between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

Education and Training Activities

A formal briefing sessions covering the provisions of the ATIA was delivered virtually to PSIC employees as a group during this reporting period. Furthermore, advice was provided on an individual basis as required.

Overview of New or Revised Institutional Policies and Procedures

No new or revised institutional policies or procedures were implemented during this reporting period which would have had an impact on access to information.

Key Issues Related to Access to Information Complaints and/or Investigations

No complaints were received from the Office of the Information Commissioner during this reporting period.

Time Monitoring for Processing Access to Information Requests

Though no formal time monitoring was conducted during this reporting period, the Office uses a case management system to track processing times regarding access to information requests. This tool assists the Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator and the contractor dedicated to this function in monitoring timelines to ensure compliancy with legislated deadlines.


Appendix A – Delegation Order

The Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, as the head of the government institution, hereby designates, pursuant to section 95(1) of the Access to Information Act, the person holding the position set out below, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers, duties or functions of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner as specified below.

Position Sections of the Access to Information Act
Deputy Commissioner Full Authority – pre and post C-58
ATIP Coordinator Full Authority – pre and post C-58

I name Denis Bilodeau as Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator.

(Original signed by)

Joe Friday
Public Sector Integrity Commissioner

February 12, 2020


Appendix B – Annual Statistical Report

Name of Institution: Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada

Reporting Period: 2021-04-01 to 2022-03-31

Section 1: Requests under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Number of Requests

  Montant
Received during reporting period 0
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
0  
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
0
Total 0
Closed during reporting period 0
Carried over the next reporting period 0
  • Carried over within legislated timeline
0  
  • Carried over beyond legislated timeline
0

1.2 Sources of Requests

Source Number of Requests
Media 0
Academia 0
Business (private sector) 0
Organization 0
Public 0
Decline to Identify 0
Total 0

1.3 Channels of Requests

Source Number of Requests
Online 0
E-mail 0
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 0

Section 2: Informal Requests

2.1 Number of Informal Requests

  Nombre de demandes
Received during reporting period 2
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
0  
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
0
Total 2
Closed during reporting period 2
Carried over the next reporting period

0

2.2 Channels of Informal Requests

Source Number of Requests
Online 0
E-mail 2
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 2

2.3 Completion Time of Informal Requests

Completion Time
1–15 days 16–30 days 31–60 days 61–120 days 121–180 days 181–365 days More than 365 days Total
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

2.4 Pages released Informally

Less than 100 Pages Released

101–500 Pages Released 501–1,000 Pages Released 1,001–5,000 Pages Released More than 5,000 Pages Released
Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2.5 Pages re-released Informally

Less than 100 Pages Re-released

101–500 Pages Re-released 501–1,000 Pages Re-released 1,001–5,000 Pages Re-released More than 5,000 Pages Re-released
Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released Number of Requests Pages Released
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 3: Applications to the Information Commissioner on Declining to Act on Requests

  Number of Requests
Outstanding from previous reporting period 0
Sent during reporting period 0
Total 0
Approved by the Information Commissioner during reporting period 0
Declined by the Information Commissioner during reporting period 0
Withdrawn during reporting period 0
Carried over to next reporting period 0

Section 4: Requests Closed During the Reporting Period

4.1 Disposition and Completion Time

Disposition of Requests Completion Time
1–15 days 16–30 days 31–60 days 61–120 days 121–180 days 181–365 days More than 365 days Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
No records exist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request transferred 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4.2 Exemptions

Section Number of Requests
13(1)(a) 0
13(1)(b) 0
13(1)(c) 0
13(1)(d) 0
13(1)(e) 0
14 0
14(a) 0
14(b) 0
15(1) 0
15(1) – I.A. Footnote ** 0
15(1) – Def. Footnote *** 0
15(1) – S.A. Footnote **** 0
16(1)(a)(i) 0
16(1)(a)(ii) 0
16(1)(a)(iii) 0
16(1)(b) 0
16(1)(c) 0
16(1)(d) 0
16(2) 0
16(2)(a) 0
16(2)(b) 0
16(2)(c) 0
16(3) 0
16.1(1)(a) 0
16.1(1)(b) 0
16.1(1)(c) 0
16.1(1)(d) 0
16.2(1) 0
16.3 0
16.31 0
16.4(1)(a) 0
16.4(1)(b) 0
16.5 0
16.6 0
17 0
18(a) 0
18(b) 0
18(c) 0
18(d) 0
18.1(1)(a) 0
18.1(1)(b) 0
18.1(1)(c) 0
18.1(1)(d) 0
19(1) 0
20(1)(a) 0
20(1)(b) 0
20(1)(b.1) 0
20(1)(c) 0
20(1)(d) 0
20.1 0
20.2 0
20.4 0
21(1)(a) 0
21(1)(b) 0
21(1)(c) 0
21(1)(d) 0
22 0
22.1(1) 0
23 0
23.1 0
24(1) 0
26 0

4.3 Exclusions

Section Number of Requests
68(a) 0
68(b) 0
68(c) 0
68.1 0
68.2(a) 0
68.2(b) 0
69(1) 0
69(1)(a) 0
69(1)(b) 0
69(1)(c) 0
69(1)(d) 0
69(1)(e) 0
69(1)(f) 0
69(1)(g) re (a) 0
69(1)(g) re (b) 0
69(1)(g) re (c) 0
69(1)(g) re (d) 0
69(1)(g) re (e) 0
69(1)(g) re (f) 0
69.1(1) 0

4.4 Format of Information Released

Paper Electronic Other
E-record Data set Video Audio
0 0 0 0 0 0

4.5 Complexity

4.5.1 Relevant Pages Processed and Disclosed for paper and e-record Formats
Number of Pages Processed Number of Pages Disclosed Number of Requests
0 0 0
4.5.2 Relevant Pages Processed and Disclosed by Size of Requests
Disposition Fewer than 100 Pages Processed 101–500 Pages Processed 501–1,000 Pages Processed 1,001–5,000 Pages Processed More than 5,000 Pages Processed
Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.5.3 Relevant Minutes Processed and Disclosed for audio Formats
Number of Minutes Processed Number of Minutes Disclosed Number of Requests
0 0 0
4.5.4 Relevant Minutes Processed per Requests disposition audio Formats by size of Requests
Disposition Less than 60 Minutes Processed 60–120 Minutes Processed More than 120 Minutes Processed
Number of Requests Minutes Processed Number of Requests Minutes Processed Number of Requests Minutes Processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.5.5 Relevant Minutes Processed and Disclosed for video Formats
Number of Minutes Processed Number of Minutes Disclosed Number of Requests
0 0 0
4.5.6 Relevant Minutes Processed per Requests disposition for video Formats by size of Requests
Disposition Less than 60 Minutes Processed 60–120 Minutes Processed More than 120 Minutes Processed
Number of Requests Minutes Processed Number of Requests Minutes Processed Number of Requests Minutes Processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.5.7 Other Complexities
Disposition Consultation Required Assessment of Fees Legal Advice Sought Other Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0

4.6 Closed Requests

4.6.1 Requests Closed within Legislated Timelines
Number of requests closed within legislated timelines 0
Percentage of requests closed within legislated timelines (%) 0

4.7 Deemed Refusals

4.7.1 Reasons for Not Meeting Legislated Timelines
Number of Requests Closed Past the Legislated Timelines Principal Reason
Interference with Operations / Workload External Consultation Internal Consultation Other
0 0 0 0 0
4.7.2 Requests Closed beyond Legislated Timelines (including any extension taken)
Number of Days Past Legislated Timeline Number of Requests Past Legislated Timeline where No Extension Was Taken Number of Requests Past Legislated Timeline where an Extension Was Taken Total
1–15 days 0 0 0
16–30 days 0 0 0
31–60 days 0 0 0
61–120 days 0 0 0
121–180 days 0 0 0
181–365 days 0 0 0
More than 365 days 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

4.8 Requests for Translation

Translation Requests Accepted Refused Total
English to French 0 0 0
French to English 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

Section 5: Extensions

5.1 Reasons for Extensions and Disposition of Requests

Disposition of Requests Where an Extension Was Taken 9(1)(a) Interference with Operations 9(1)(b) Consultation 9(1)(c) Third-Party Notice
Section 69 Other
All disclosed 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0
No records exist 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

5.2 Length of Extensions

Length of Extensions 9(1)(a) Interference with Operations 9(1)(b) Consultation 9(1)(c) Third-Party Notice
Section 69 Other
30 days or less 0 0 0 0
31–60 days 0 0 0 0
61–120 days 0 0 0 0
121–180 days 0 0 0 0
181–365 days 0 0 0 0
365 days or more 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

Section 6: Fees

Fee Type Fee Collected Fee Waived Fee Refunded
Requests Amount Requests Amount Requests Amount
Application 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Other fees 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Total 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

Section 7: Consultations Received from Other Institutions and Organizations

7.1 Consultations Received from Other Government of Canada Institutions and Organizations

Consultations Other Government of Canada Institutions Number of Pages to Review Other Organizations Number of Pages to Review
Received during the reporting period 20 0 0 0
Outstanding from the previous reporting period 0 0 0 0
Total 20 0 0 0
Closed during the reporting period 20 0 0 0
Carried over within negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0
Carried over beyond negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0

7.2 Recommendations and Completion Time for Consultations Received from Other Government of Canada Institutions

Recommendation Number of Days Required to Complete Consultation Requests
1–15 days 16–30 days 31–60 days 61–120 days 121–180 days 181–365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
Disclose in part 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institutions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 20

7.3 Recommendations and Completion Time for Consultations Received from Other Organizations Outside the Government of Canada

Recommendation Number of Days Required to Complete Consultation Requests
1–15 days 16–30 days 31–60 days 61–120 days 121–180 days 181–365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclose in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institutions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 8: Completion Time of Consultations on Cabinet Confidences

8.1 Requests with Legal Services

Number of Days Fewer than 100 Pages Processed 101–500 Pages Processed 501–1,000 Pages Processed 1,001–5,000 Pages Processed More than 5,000 Pages Processed
Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed
1–15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16–30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31–60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61–120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121–180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181–365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

8.2 Requests with Privy Council Office

Number of Days Fewer than 100 Pages Processed 101–500 Pages Processed 501–1,000 Pages Processed 1,001–5,000 Pages Processed More than 5,000 Pages Processed
Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed Number of Requests Pages Disclosed
1–15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16–30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31–60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61–120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121–180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181–365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 9: Investigations and Reports finding

Section 32

Notice of Intention to Investigate

Section 30(5)

Ceased to Investigate

Section 35

Formal Representations

Section 37

Reports of Finding Received

Section 37

Reports of Finding Containing Recommendations Issued by the Information Commissioner

Section 37

Reports of Finding Containing Orders Issued by the Information Commissioner

0 0 0 0 0 0

9.1 Investigations

Section 32 Notice of Intention to Investigate

Subsection 30(5) Ceased to Investigate

Section 35 Format Representation

0 0 0

9.2 Investigations and Reports of finding

Section 37(1) Initial Reports Section 37(2) Final Reports
Received Containing recommandations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner

Received

Containing recommandations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner
0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 10: Court Action

10.1 Court Actions on Complaints

Section 41
Complainant (1) Institution (2) Third Party (3) Privacy Commissioner (4) Total
0 0 0 0 0

10.2 Court Actions on Third Party notifications under Paragraph 28(1)(b)

Section 44, under paragraph 28(1)(b)
0

Section 11: Resources Related to the Access to Information Act

11.1 Costs

Expenditures Amount
Salaries $4,500
Overtime $0
Goods and Services $7,250
  • Professional service contracts
$7,100  
  • Other
$150
Total $11,750

11.2 Human Resources

Resources Person Years Dedicated to Access to Information Activities
Full-time employees 0.040
Part-time and casual employees 0.000
Regional staff 0.000
Consultants and agency personnel 0.050
Students 0.000
Total 0.090

Appendix C – Supplemental Statistical Report

Section 1: Capacity to Receive Requests under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act

Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to receive ATIP requests through the different channels.

  Number of Weeks
Able to receive requests by mail 52
Able to receive requests by e-mail 52
Able to receive requests through the digital request service 52

Section 2: Capacity to Process Records under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act

2.1 Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to process paper records in different classification levels

  No Capacity Partial Capacity Full Capacity Total
Unclassified Paper Records 0 0 52 52
Protected B Paper Records 0 0 52 52
Secret and Top Secret Paper Records 0 0 52 52

2.2 Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to process electronic records in different classification levels

  No Capacity Partial Capacity Full Capacity Total
Unclassified Electronic Records 0 0 52 52
Protected B Electronic Records 0 0 52 52
Secret and Top Secret Electronic Records 0 0 52

52

Section 3: Open Requests and Complaints Under the Access to Information Act

3.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Requests Were Received Open Requests that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2022 Open Requests that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2022 Total
Received in 2021–22 0 0 0
Received in 2020–21 0 0 0
Received in 2019–20 0 0 0
Received in 2018–19 0 0 0
Received in 2017–18 0 0 0
Received in 2016–17 0 0 0
Received in 2015–16 of earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

3.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Complaints Were Received by Institution Total
Received in 2021–22 0
Received in 2020–21 0
Received in 2019–20 0
Received in 2018–19 0
Received in 2017–18 0
Received in 2016–17 0
Received in 2015–16 of earlier 0
Total 0

Section 4: Open Requests and Complaints Under the Privacy Act

4.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Requests Were Received Open Requests that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2022 Open Requests that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2022 Total
Received in 2021–22 0 0 0
Received in 2020–21 0 0 0
Received in 2019–20 0 0 0
Received in 2018–19 0 0 0
Received in 2017–18 0 0 0
Received in 2016–17 0 0 0
Received in 2015–16 of earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

4.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Complaints Were Received by Institution Total
Received in 2021–22 0
Received in 2020–21 0
Received in 2019–20 0
Received in 2018–19 0
Received in 2017–18 0
Received in 2016–17 0
Received in 2015–16 of earlier 0
Total 0

Section 5: Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Did your Institution receive authority for a new collection or new consistent use of the SIN in 2021–22 No