The complainant alleged that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) 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 all documents respecting House of Commons committee studies related to the business of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, from February 1, 2023 to July 14, 2023. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

During the investigation, the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) was advised that approximately 5,782 pages of responsive records were initially received. It was also noted that, although follow-ups were initiated, one of CRA’s Offices of Primary Interest (OPIs) had not yet provided the balance of their responsive records (approximately 4,715 pages) for review.

Despite the remaining work, given how long the response to the access request has been outstanding, the Information Commissioner ordered the Minister of National Revenue that CRA to issue a complete response to the access request by no later than January 8, 2025. In addition, the Information Commissioner made two recommendations: first, that CRA develop proper processes and procedures to ensure that CRA OPIs will abide by their responsibilities to provide responsive records in a timely fashion to CRA’s ATIP Office; and second, that CRA develop performance indicators to hold its senior officials accountable for delays in providing responsive records to CRA’s ATIP Office. CRA gave notice to the Commissioner that it would implement the order and has taken the recommendations into consideration.

The complaint is well founded.