The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Victoria Woodworth-Lynas, has released her Report A-2019-016 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-2019-016 |
| Report Date: | July 25, 2019 |
| Public Body: | Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development |
| Summary: | The Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development received a request for records relating to the Department’s progress in responding to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner approved two applications by the Department for an extension of the time limit to respond to the request, and denied a third. The Department delivered the final response to the Complainant 14 months after the request was made, and 11 months after the extended deadline. The Department withheld almost all of the responsive records on the basis of section 27 (cabinet confidences).
The Commissioner found that the section 27 exception had been properly applied, and therefore did not recommend further disclosures. The Commissioner also found that the extraordinary delay in responding to the request was unacceptable, and that the delay resulted from a number of factors, including workload issues, consultations with other departments, and application of a policy on consultations that resulted in conflict with the mandatory provisions of the Act. The Commissioner recommended that the Department review its processes to reduce or eliminate such delays. |
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709-729-6309