The complainant alleged that the Privy Council Office (PCO) 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 the records contained in File 45731-2-2001 – ICSI Meetings 2001. The allegation falls under paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.

The investigation determined that PCO did not respond by the required date and is deemed to have refused access to the requested records under subsection 10(3). The delay was caused by the failure of the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) office to initiate consultations and process the request in a timely manner.

The Information Commissioner ordered that PCO provide a complete response to the access request no later than 36 business days after the date of the final report.

PCO gave notice to the Commissioner that it would be implementing the order and would respond to the access request within the ordered time frame.

The complaint is well founded.