Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-15

An applicant asked for records from the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (public body) relating to their family member's tragic workplace fatality at a workplace. The public body provided the applicant with responsive records but heavily redacted information or fully withheld some pages of records citing s. 15(1)(f) (prosecutorial discretion), s. 15(1)(k) (harm security of property or system), and s. 20 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Commissioner finds that the representations provided by the public body were not sufficient to discharge its evidentiary burden of proof with respect to the information withheld under s. 15 and so recommends its release to the applicant (except to the extent that it must continue to be withheld under s. 20). She finds that some information must continue to be withheld under s. 20 but the remainder should be released to the applicant. Read more...

Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-14

The Department of Public Works (public body) did not issue a decision to the applicant in response to an access to information request within the legislated time period required by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). The cause of the delay was related to the public body's search actions. The applicant appealed to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The Commissioner finds that the public body is in contravention of s. 7 of FOIPOP and recommends a decision be issued by November 23, 2023. Read more...

Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-13

The applicant requested records from Mount Saint Vincent University (public body). The public body withheld the requested records in full on the basis that disclosing the records would be an unreasonable invasion of multiple third parties' personal privacy (s. 20 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act). The Commissioner finds that the public body appropriately applied s. 20 to the responsive records. The Commissioner recommends that the public body continue to withhold the records. Read more...

Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-12

The applicant requested records about herself from Dalhousie University (public body). The public body withheld the requested records in full, on the basis that the records were subject to solicitor-client privilege and so could be withheld under s. 16 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Commissioner finds that the public body appropriately applied s. 16 to the responsive records and lawfully exercised its discretion to withhold them. The Commissioner recommends that the public body continue to withhold the records withheld under s. 16. Read more...

Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-11

The applicant requested records from Dalhousie University (public body) relating to various complaints. The public body redacted a small portion of the responsive records it said reveals advice or recommendations, as contemplated in s. 14 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Commissioner finds that the public body appropriately applied s. 14 to the redacted information and lawfully exercised its discretion to redact it. The Commissioner recommends that the public body continue to withhold the information redacted under s. 14. Read more...

Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 23-10

The applicant is a former child in the care of the Department of Community Services (public body). She requested access to all information held by the public body in relation to her time in care including information about the circumstances for her apprehension and the foster homes in which she was placed. The public body provided her with responsive records but withheld portions of them on the basis that disclosing those portions would be an unreasonable invasion of various third parties' personal privacy (s. 20 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act). The Commissioner finds that disclosure of a very small amount of the withheld information would be an unreasonable invasion of multiple third parties' personal privacy and so recommends it continue to be withheld. However, she also finds that disclosure of the majority of the withheld information would not be an unareasonable invasion of the third parties' personal privacy and so recommends it be released to the applicant. Read more...