Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2012-002 Released

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2012-002 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-2012-002
Report Date:  January 18, 2012
Public Body:   City of Corner Brook

Summary:

The Applicant applied to the City of Corner Brook (the “City”) under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the “ATIPPA”) for access to information related to a development proposal. The City withheld the responsive records pursuant to section 27 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party) of the ATIPPA, but did, however, respond to certain questions posed by the Applicant in his access to information request. The Commissioner found that in instances where Third Parties had consented to the release of their information section 27 was inapplicable and the information should be released. In instances where Third Parties did not consent to the release of their information the Commissioner found that the City had improperly claimed section 27 and the information should be released. Finally, the Commissioner found that information contained in certain responsive records was unresponsive to the Applicant’s request and, consequently, could be severed from those records. The Commissioner recommended that all responsive records be released, except for the specified unresponsive information but urged the City to use its discretion in this regard.

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

2012 01 27                          9:25 a.m.