Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2011-014 Released

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2011-014 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.nl.ca/accessreports.htm 

Report: A-2011-014
Report Date: September 21, 2011
Public Body: Town of St. George’s

Summary:

The Applicant made an application to the Town of St. George’s (the “Town”) under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the “ATIPPA”) for access to records related to a specific item of the Town’s 2009 audited financial statement. The Town extended the time to respond under section 16 of the ATIPPA and then failed to respond within this extended period. The Town is considered to have refused access to the records as per section 11 of the Act. When asked to explain this deemed refusal, the Town stated it would have to re-engage its accountant to find the responsive records. The Commissioner determined the Town had failed in its duty to assist the Applicant by extending the time frame to respond without just cause and by failing to conduct a reasonable search for the records. The Commissioner recommended the Town conduct a proper search and release any records found to the Applicant and to this Office in accordance with the ATIPPA.

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Media contact:
Ed Ring
Information and Privacy Commissioner
709-729-6309

2011 09 26                                   11:25 a.m.