Question Period Note: Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)

The tabling of Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) findings from its systematic investigation of IRCC’s handling of Access to Information requests for client immigration files.

• IRCC takes its responsibilities and obligations under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act seriously.

• We thank the Information Commissioner of Canada for tabling the report “The Systemic Investigation of IRCC’s ATIP Requests” following an investigation into the cause of an increase in the number of complaints about IRCC Access to Information (ATI) requests.

• In response to the recommendations made, IRCC has developed a Management Action Plan, the details of which are available online.

• We are committed to promoting an open and transparent government and we will continue to work towards improving our processes and addressing complaints and other issues raised by the OIC.

• IRCC’s volume of access requests for immigration case application files has substantially increased: from 62,928 in 2017–18 to 81,013 in 2018–19 and 115,558 in 2019–20.
• The Report is to be tabled on May 25, 2021 by the Information Commissioner and includes the following five recommendations:
1. Revise our approach in seeking extensions on bulk requestors;
2. Develop a work plan for measures underway;
3. Publish the work plan;
4. Implement / augment a plan to share more information with clients; and
5. Secure short-term funding for additional resources.

• IRCC has developed a Management Action Plan (MAP) to address the recommendations. This plan will be published on IRCC’s website along with accompanying messaging in tandem with the OIC’s report being tabled on May, 25, 2021. The results achieved to date will be published as part of IRCC’s Access to Information Act Annual Report.

Related Documents:
• Office of Information Commissioner Final Report
• IRCC - Management Action Plan
• Information Commissioner initiates a systemic investigation into the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

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