The complainant alleged that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) had improperly withheld information under paragraph 18(b) (negotiations by government institutions), subsection 19(1) (personal information) and paragraph 20(1)(d) (negotiations by a third party) of the Access to Information Act. This was in response to an access request for records related to the use of Indigenous languages in the proceedings of the House of Commons. The complaint falls within paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

PSPC showed that the per diem rates met all of the requirements of paragraph 18(b) but could not show that any of the other withheld information met the requirements of paragraphs 18(b) or 20(1)(d).

PSPC did not demonstrate that it considered all relevant factors and reasonably exercised its discretion to decide to withhold the per diem rates.

The Information Commissioner ordered that PSPC disclose the information it withheld under paragraphs 18(b) and 20(1)(d) other than the per diem rates and re-exercise its discretion to decide whether to withhold the per diem rates under paragraph 18(b).

PSPC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order.

The complaint is well founded.