Final report concerning Canadian Heritage
Final report concerning Indigenous Services Canada
Final report concerning Privy Council Office
Information Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
Final report concerning Public Health Agency of Canada
Helpful information on how the Office of the Information Commissioner approaches investigations and interprets the Access to Information Act.
In light of the strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, complainants are encouraged to use the Office of the Information Commissioner’s electronic complaint form to submit complaints.
The Access to Information Act gives a right to access information under the control of government institutions. The Act also provides a right to complain to the Information Commissioner about matters related to an access request made under the Act, such as the following:
Individuals may also complain about other matters related to requesting and accessing records under Part 1 of the Act, even if they did not make an access request.
In all instances, complainants may authorize someone else to submit a complaint(s) on their behalf.
More information: Types of complaints; How the OIC processes and investigates complaints
The Access to Information Act gives Canadians the right to request information from federal institutions. If you submitted a request for information to a federal institution under the Act and you are not satisfied with how it was processed, you may file a complaint with the OIC.
Guidance for institutions on how the OIC approaches investigations and on the information Commissioner's interpretation of the Act is available to everyone.
The Information Commissioner reports directly to Parliament. She appears before parliamentary committees and makes written submissions to them. She also publishes her annual report to Parliament and issues special reports when required. Upon request, the Commissioner provides expert advice to parliamentarians on access to information matters.
Each year on September 28th, countries around the globe recognize the International Day for Universal Access to Information as an occasion to reflect on the important role the right of access plays in development, democracy and equality.
Gatineau, June 18, 2024 – Caroline Maynard, the Information Commissioner of Canada, tabled her 2023-2024 Annual Report in Parliament today.
The report details the activities of the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) over the past year, offering updates on complaints, the operations of the Registry, investigations and the increasing volume of litigation brought about by the Commissioner’s use of her order-making power.
