2015-2016 Appendix A: Facts and figures

Summary of caseload, 2011–2012 to 2015–2016

Complaints registered, 2012–2013 to 2015–2016

In 2015–2016 the Commissioner received 664 administrative complaints (about delays, time extensions and fees), 35 Cabinet confidence refusal complaints and 1,348 refusal complaints (commonly about the application of exemptions).

The ratio of administrative complaints to refusal complaints registered was 32:68.

Commonly cited exemptions in exemption complaints registered, 2015–2016

The most commonly cited exemption in complaints to the Commissioner in 2015–2016 was section 19 (personal information), followed by sections 16 (law enforcement and investigations), 21 (advice and recommendations to government), 20 (third party information), 23 (solicitor-client privilege), and lastly, 15 (international affairs and defence).

New complaints by institution, 2011–2012 to 2015–2016^{Footnote 4}

This chart contains real numbers only and does not reflect the proportion of complaints to the number of requests.

The chart above shows the 20 institutions that received the most complaints in 2015–2016. Many institutions appear on this list from year to year. For example, the top three institutions–Canada Revenue Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada) – were in the top three positions in 2014–2015.

Of note are significant increases in complaints against the Public Service Commission of Canada and Sustainable Development Technology Canada. In fact, this is the first year that the Sustainable Development Technology Canada has received complaints since becoming subject to the Act in 2007. In both cases, these increases in complaints can be attributed to a single complainant to each institution.

Health Canada has seen a significant decrease in complaints (less than half as compared to 2014–2015). While no single reason is known for this decrease, there was a spike in complaints in 2014–2015 that was attributed, in part, to one source that made 15 complaints on the same general issue in that year. Further, the OIC has noted an improved level of cooperation and leadership when communicating with Health Canada’s ATIP Directorate in 2015–2016.

Turnaround times for complaint investigations, 2011–2012 to 2015–2016

Complaints closed within nine months from date of assignment

In 2015–2016, the Commissioner closed 74.9 percent of complaints within nine months of their being assigned to an investigator. The overall median turnaround time from the date a file was assigned to an investigator to completion was 84 days. The overall median turnaround time increased by one day from 2014–2015.  

However, there is a delay before a file can be assigned to an investigator. The overall median delay was 127 days.

Administrative complaints closed within 90 days from date of assignment

The Commissioner’s performance objective is to have a median turnaround time of 90 days for administrative complaints. The overall median turnaround time for closing administrative complaints in 2015–2016 from the date files are assigned was 48 days.

The median delay before an administrative complaint could be assigned was 83 days. 

Refusal complaints closed within 180 days from date of assignment

The Commissioner’s performance objective is to have a median turnaround time of 180 days for refusal complaints. The overall median turnaround time for closing refusal complaints in 2015–2016 from the date files are assigned was 166 days.

The median delay before a refusal complaint could be assigned was 230 days. 

This chart lists the 20 institutions about which the Commissioner completed the most complaints in 2015–2016.