The OPC saw a rise in the number of requests under both laws compared to the previous year
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has presented its 2023-2024 Annual Reports to Parliament, outlining its administration of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and the Privacy Act (PA).
Under the ATIA, the OPC received 83 formal requests in 2023-2024, a 52 percent increase from the previous year. The OPC processed 97 requests, including carry-overs, and responded to 94 percent of them within legislated timelines. In addition to formal requests, the OPC also handled 67 informal requests and processed over 32,000 pages of documents. Despite increased requests, the number of pages processed grew only by 20 percent, demonstrating a manageable workload for the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) division.
Regarding the Privacy Act, the OPC handled 101 formal requests for personal information, closing all within legislated timelines. This marked a significant 357 percent increase in pages processed compared to the previous year. Most requests involved partial disclosure, while 65 were abandoned by the requesters. The OPC did not face any correction requests for personal information during this period.
Both reports also detailed the OPC’s compliance efforts, noting that 94 percent of ATIA requests were completed within the required timeframes. The requests covered a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence and various meetings. Due to the complexity of the information and consultation requirements with other entities, extensions were sought for nine requests.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the OPC maintained its operations through a hybrid work model adopted in early 2023, which has now been fully implemented. The reports indicate that the OPC's ability to respond to information requests and fulfill its mandate remained unaffected by the pandemic.
The OPC also addressed complaints made under the ATIA and PA. In 2023-2024, the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada resolved four complaints related to access requests. Similarly, seven complaints were made against the OPC under the PA, all of which were either deemed not well-founded or discontinued.
According to the OPC, it remains active in addressing privacy concerns, including a material privacy breach affecting OPC employees. It continues to collaborate with the Treasury Board Secretariat and other agencies on improving privacy safeguards.
