The complainant alleged that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) did not respond within the extended period under subsection 9(1) of the Access to Information Act to an access request. The request was for records related to meetings and the lobbying efforts of the Pathways Alliance Inc., from January 14, 2023, to May 4, 2023. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The investigation determined that ECCC did not respond to the access request when the time extension expired. The delay was caused by a lack of responsiveness from two offices of primary interest (OPIs).

The Information Commissioner ordered that ECCC provide a response to the access request no later than August 7, 2024. She also recommended that the Minister of Environment develop proper processes and procedures to ensure that ECCC OPIs will abide by their responsibilities to provide responsive records in a timely fashion to ECCC’s ATIP Office and that he develop performance indicators to hold senior officials accountable for delays in providing responsive records to ECCC’s ATIP Office.

ECCC gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order and detailed the steps it is taking to implement the recommendations.

The complaint is well founded.

Institution
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Section of the Act
30(1)(a)
Decision Type
Recommendation
Order
Final report
Date modified:
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