The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2022-001 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.
To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.
| Report: | A-2022-001 |
| Report Date: | January 5, 2022 |
| Public Body: | Department of Education |
| Summary: | The Complainant submitted an access to information request to the Department of Education under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 seeking access to records regarding the Minister’s emails within a specified period of time. The Department sought to narrow the request then completed its search. In its response, the Department provided the Complainant with responsive records, but severed some information pursuant to sections 29 (policy, advice or recommendations), 35(1)(c), (d), (g) (disclosure harmful to the financial or economic interests of a public body), 39 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), and 40 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy). The Complainant argued that the Department had not properly handled the request, requested confirmation the exceptions to access had been properly applied, and raised concerns about the reasonableness of the search. The Commissioner concluded that the Department had met its obligations in handling the request, including the duty to assist, and that the exceptions had been properly applied. However, the Commissioner noted that the Department ought to have expanded its search for records to incorporate email responses of the Minister sent via his Secretary’s email. |
– 30 –
Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309
2022 01 10
11:43 am