The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Victoria Woodworth-Lynas, has released her Report A-2019-011 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.
To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner 
| Report: | A-2019-011 |
| Report Date: | May 14, 2019 |
| Public Body: | Town of Gander |
| Summary: | The Town of Gander received an access request for all emails sent and received by a Town Councillor. The Town completed a search for these records that led to a large number of records being located; however, many of those records were later found to be duplicates or not responsive to the request. The Town therefore released a significantly smaller number of records than what was originally located, with some of the information withheld under section 40 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy). The Commissioner concluded that the Town appropriately withheld information in accordance with section 40; however, the Town failed to process the attachments to emails that were responsive to the request, and as a result no attachments were initially provided to the Complainant. The Commissioner recommended that the Town review the attachments to the emails, consider any exceptions that may apply and release them to the Applicant as appropriate. The Commissioner also recommended that the Town draft and implement policies regarding record searches and email use and provide training to all employees with access to email, including Council, regarding best practices for the use of business email accounts, records management, and records retention. |
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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research and Quality Assurance
709-729-6309
2019 05 14
2:30 pm