Access to Information Modernization Action Plan Tracker

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Action:

Provide additional information to public servants on the consequences of obstructing the right of access.

Organization:

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Category:

(C02) Enhancing Trust and Transparency

Subcategory:

(C02.1) Actions to address declassification and information management

Status:

Completed

Action Number:

C02.1.3

Target Date:

Fiscal Year 2024-25

Benefits:

Public servants understand what constitutes obstructing the right of access and its consequences.

The risk of public servants obstructing the right of access of Canadians is reduced.

Results:

In March 2023, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) delivered a Deep Dive training session through the Access to Information and Privacy Communities Development Office on offences under the Access to Information Act (the Act), including obstructing the right of access. A similar presentation was delivered in November 2024. In total, 481 ATI professionals and public servants attended, and the November 2024 session recording was posted to the ATIP Professionals GCcollab group.

Further, in March 2025, TBS posted an updated version of Chapter 15 – Offences and Protection from Civil Proceedings of Prosecution of the Access to Information Manual to the ATIP Professionals GCcollab group. The chapter provides information on offences under the Act and on policy requirements for institutions to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to address cases of alleged obstruction of the right of access. The chapter will be published to canada.ca as soon as practicable in fiscal year 2025-26.