Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2019-018 Released

  • Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

August 16, 2019

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2019-018 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-2019-018
Report Date: August 15, 2019
Public Body: Memorial University

Summary: The Memorial University (“Memorial”) received a request for all records, including emails and financial documents, created in the process of generating, reviewing and investigating a Respectful Workplace complaint against him. Memorial provided access in part but redacted some information pursuant to sections 29 (policy advice and recommendations) and 40 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy). Memorial also withheld the financial records. The Complainant requested a review of the redacted information. The Complainant also stated that Memorial failed to conduct a reasonable search and did not fulfill its duty to assist him. The Commissioner determined Memorial incorrectly applied sections 29 and 40 to many of the records, and did not give sufficient reason for withholding the financial records. The Commissioner found that Memorial in certain respects had not conducted a reasonable search for records and failed in its duty to assist the Complainant.

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Media contact
Janet O’Reilly
Senior Access and Privacy Analyst
709-729-6309

2019 08 16 10:00 am