The complainant alleged that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) had improperly withheld information under subsection 19(1) (personal information), paragraph 20(1)(b) (confidential third-party financial, commercial, scientific or technical information) and subsection 24(1) (disclosure restricted by another law) of the Access to Information Act in response to an access request for records pertaining to the engagement of Canadian universities in the Federal Contractors Program. The complaint falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

Business numbers, the only information withheld under subsection 24(1), were removed from the scope of the complaint.

The institution did not demonstrate that all information it withheld under subsection 19(1) was personal information about identifiable individuals, or that it appropriately exercised its discretion under paragraph 19(2)(b).

The institution and third party did not demonstrate that the requirements of paragraph 20(1)(b) were met where ESDC withheld a completed Employment Equity Achievement Awards Application Form.

The complaint is well founded.

The Information Commissioner ordered the Minister of Employment and Social Development to disclose all information at issue.

ESDC gave notice that it would fully implement the order.