The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Phil Wall, has released his Report 2007-006 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to //www.oipc.gov.nl.ca/

Report 2007-006
Report Date: May 23, 2007
Public Body: College of the North Atlantic

Summary: The Applicant applied to the College of the North Atlantic ("CNA") under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for copies of letters of equivalency involving four students identified by name. Even though the Applicant named the four individuals, she indicated that she would expect the names and other identifying information to be removed from any records disclosed to her. CNA responded by applying section 12(2)(b), which states that a public body may refuse to confirm or deny the existence of a record containing personal information, if disclosure of the existence of the information would have the effect of disclosing personal information which is protected under section 30. The Commissioner agreed with CNA in its decision, indicating that there was a reasonable expectation upon CNA�s part that the Applicant would gain knowledge of personal information of the four individuals if CNA were to confirm the existence or non-existence of the records. The Commissioner also indicated that the information itself clearly qualifies as personal information, because it is about the educational status or history of four identified individuals.