Strategic Plan 2020–21 to 2025–26

Message from the Commissioner – Updated for 2024–26

First launched in 2020, two years into my mandate, the Office of the Information Commissioner’s strategic plan for 2020–21 to 2024–25 set the direction and priorities for the organization. The intervening period has seen momentous change across the access to information landscape: in spite of a Global Pandemic that profoundly impacted the operations of Federal institutions, the Government concluded a review that yielded no changes to the forty-year-old Access to Information Act underpinning the system. 

Nevertheless, as the results achieved over the past few years will attest, this plan has proven to be a robust framework and true “North Star” for the Office of the Information Commissioner. A re-examination of the vision, values, mission originally adopted in this plan, as well as an analysis of the actions proposed and undertaken to support the plan’s strategic pillars has led me to conclude that it should continue to guide the organization to at least 2025–26. I am convinced that, by staying focussed on these strategies, the Office of the Information Commissioner will be well positioned to continue to tackle current challenges, as well as take on any new ones that arise in the coming years.

Caroline Maynard
Information Commissioner of Canada

Our vision

“Federal institutions properly apply the Access to Information Act and respect Canadians’ right of access.”

Canada’s freedom of information legislation gives Canadians the right to access information about their government—about the activities it undertakes, the decisions it makes and the money it spends. The Supreme Court of Canada has called the right of access “quasi-constitutional.”

The purpose of the Access to Information Act is to “enhance the accountability and transparency of federal institutions in order to promote an open and democratic society and to enable public debate on the conduct of those institutions” (subsection 2(1)).

The Information Commissioner investigates complaints about how federal government institutions apply the Act, so Canadians can receive the information to which they are entitled.

Our mission

“To conduct efficient and fair investigations, be open and transparent when dealing with institutions and complainants, and provide expert advice to Parliament and other stakeholders on access to information.”

The Office of the Information Commissioner’s mission outlines three areas on which to focus our work and make our vision a reality:

Investigations: Access delayed is access denied, so we make every effort to complete our investigations promptly, while respecting the requirements of the Act and the rules of procedural fairness.

Operations: We strive to be a model of openness and transparency in every aspect of our business, to help parties to complaints and the public understand what we do and why.

Expertise: We apply our more than 40 years of experience investigating complaints to the broader questions surrounding access to information, to assist Parliament and other stakeholders.

Our values

The core values of the public service—respect for democracy, respect for people, integrity, stewardship and excellence—guide our work and professional conduct.

The following five values further focus our efforts to provide effective and efficient program and service delivery to the parties to a complaint, and guide our interactions with institutions, Parliament and other stakeholders.

Our strategies

We will pursue three strategies to achieve our vision, deliver our mission and live out our values:

• Invest in and support our resources
• Innovate and transform our operations
• Maintain and enhance our credibility

Invest in and support our resources

Why is this important?

Our work is challenging and labour-intensive, and requires dedicated, professional staff to carry it out. Our team of investigators, lawyers, communicators, ATIP specialists, and IM/IT, human resources, finance, security and accommodation experts works together to support the Information Commissioner and deliver her mandate under the Access to Information Act.

How will we do it?

• By attracting and retaining a versatile, innovative, qualified and high-performing workforce

We will provide meaningful training, interesting development opportunities and challenging assignments to attract and retain access and internal service specialists, and individuals whose skills can be adapted to our work.

• By committing to provide a harassment-free, healthy and safe work environment

We will address all instances of harassment and violence in the workplace promptly and effectively, following a zero-tolerance policy. We will help employees achieve work-life balance and actively promote health and wellness, so employees can be at their best both at work and at home.

• By managing all resources responsibly

We will increase the rigour of our governance, policy, human resources, financial management and audit activities so we can be a sound steward of all our human and financial resources.

• By investing in achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels and ensuring its professional development

We will ensure that all steps of the hiring process and career lifecycle are free of barriers or biases, including professional development, career progression and employee retention, so that all our employees can reach their full potential.

How will we know we have succeeded?

Our workforce is stable, with limited turnover.

Our results on annual employee surveys reflect a healthy working environment.

We meet all our corporate commitments while making optimal use of resources at our disposal.

Innovate and transform our operations

Why is this important?

The adoption of new and rapidly evolving technology, the unrelenting interest of Canadians in holding government to account and the reality of the 24-hour news cycle mean we cannot be complacent about how we do our work. Being innovative and transforming our operations—through the creative use of technology, smart and efficient processes, and targeted expertise—will position us to be more agile and responsive in the face of challenges, serve complainants better and help us meet our corporate obligations.

How will we do it?

• By working collaboratively with all stakeholders

We will work in concert with others, internally and externally, to solve problems and deliver services, provide timely, accurate and helpful guidance to institutions and complainants, and communicate openly and regularly about our priorities, challenges and successes.

• By leveraging expertise, innovative tools and streamlined processes to ensure continuous improvement

We will adopt modern, automated processes and tools to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and consistency in all areas of our business.

• By building a proactive change management culture

We will implement and promote a change management methodology, including planning, consulting and communicating about organizational change, and other changes, to all stakeholders.

How will we know we have succeeded?

We have established channels in place for communicating and collaborating effectively among staff and with all external stakeholders, including for providing guidance on all aspects of our business.

We have paperless operations, including investigations, and automated processes when possible.

We actively plan, consult and communicate about change that will affect staff, complainants and institutions.

Maintain and enhance our credibility

Why is this important?

Our credibility depends on our putting our words into action and being an example for institutions through the timeliness and quality of our work. Stakeholders—ranging from ordinary citizens to access to information specialists to parliamentarians—look to us for well-researched facts and opinions on access and transparency.

How will we do it?

• By significantly reducing the inventory of complaints and reducing turnaround times for investigations

We will seek to secure sufficient investigative resources and expertise to respond effectively to our workload, and put optimal investigation processes and practices in place.

• By achieving coherent and consistent outcomes through impartial and rigorous investigations, litigations and professional service delivery

We will set and maintain standards of excellence and rigour in all areas of our business. We will establish consistent and realistic deadlines and service standards, and communicate those to all stakeholders.

We will use all tools at our disposal, including going to Court, to ensure the Act is respected and to enforce compliance with the Commissioner’s orders.

• By maintaining our reputation

We will provide expert advice and authoritative information to Parliament, Central Agencies and other stakeholders on access to information, on interpreting and applying the Act, and on legislative reform. We will seek out and create opportunities to share best practices with and learn from stakeholders.

How will we know we have succeeded?

We close more complaints than we receive each year and improve our turn around time for investigations.

We publish final reports and the orders issued by the Commissioner.

We consistently apply the Act through impartial and thorough investigations.

We contribute to government and parliamentary reviews of the Act, and regularly share best practices with institutions and other stakeholders.

We appear before the court on access matters or to pursue compliance with Commissioner’s orders.

An integrated approach to planning

This plan will continue to be an effective tool for planning, priority setting and accountability, and will serve as the foundation for our human resources plan and performance indicators.

An operational plan complements this plan by setting out specific corporate activities under each of the three strategies. In turn, each business unit develops and follows its own detailed operational plan for each fiscal year, and reports progress and results to our senior management team.

As an Agent of Parliament, the Commissioner may be asked to appear before Parliament to explain our work and on our progress against this plan. The Commissioner tables an annual report in Parliament each year in which she reviews our activities for the year through the lens of this plan.

We also report annually to Parliament and Canadians on our plans, priorities and results through our Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report, including against specific performance indicators.

Together, this suite of documents provides employees and managers with important guidance so they can manage their activities and ensure their work is moving us towards our vision and contributing to the delivery of our mission.

This plan and related reports provide external stakeholders—including complainants, institutions and Parliament—with information and insight into how we approach our work and use our resources.

We will revisit the plan each year and adjust it, if needed, to respond to changing circumstances.

To learn more about the Office of the Information Commissioner

Website: www.oic-ci.gc.ca

Email: general@oic-ci.gc.ca
Tel. (toll free): 1-800-267-0441
Fax: 819-994-1768

Office of the Information Commissioner
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau QC K1A 1H3

Strategic planning

France Labine, Deputy Commissioner, Corporate Services, Strategic Planning and Transformation Services
Tel.: 819-994-8181
Email: france.labine@ci-oic.gc.ca

Media enquiries

France Langlois, Manager, Communications and Media Relations
Tel.: 873-353-4113
Email: france.langlois@oic-ci.gc.ca

To submit a complaint under the Access to Information Act

Online: www.oic-ci.gc.ca
Email: greffe-registry@oic-ci.gc.ca

Office of the Information Commissioner
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau QC K1A 1H3