Annual report to Parliament: Access to Information Act 2023 to 2024

Abstract

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Annual Report to Parliament on the Administration of the Access to Information Act is submitted in accordance with section 94 of the Access to Information Act and section 20 of the Service Fees Act. It presents an overview of the Access to Information Act activities carried out within Environment and Climate Change Canada during the reporting period of April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

During the reporting period, Environment and Climate Change Canada received 1,965 requests under the Access to Information Act and completed 1,496 requests.

Introduction

The Access to Information Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1) was proclaimed into force on July 1, 1983. Section 94 of the Act requires every head of a federal government institution to submit a report to Parliament on the administration of the Act within their institution during the fiscal year.

This report is submitted in accordance with section 94 of the Access to Information Act and section 20 of the Service Fees Act. It presents an overview of the Access to Information Act activities carried out within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) during the reporting period of April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. As the Canada Emission Reduction Incentives Agency was not operational during this reporting period, an Agency report will not be prepared for this period.

Purpose of the Acts

The Access to Information Act enhances the accountability and transparency of federal government institutions in order to promote an open and democratic society, and to enable public debate on the conduct of those institutions. Part 1 of the Act provides the right of access to information found within federal government institutions records, subject to certain specific and limited exceptions. Part 2 of the Act sets out requirements for the proactive publication of various types of information located within federal government institutions that are of interest to the public. The Access to Information Act complements but does not replace existing channels of communications within federal government institutions.

The Privacy Act protects the privacy of individuals with respect to their personal information. The Act sets out provisions that govern the collection, use, retention, disposition and disclosure of personal information by federal government institutions. It also provides individuals with the right of access to their personal information held within government institutions.

About Environment and Climate Change Canada

The Department of the Environment was established by the Government Reorganization Act (1970-71-72, c. 42) on June 10, 1971. A number of acts and regulations provide the Department with its mandate and allow it to carry out its programs. Under the Department of the Environment Act, the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of the Environment extend to and include matters relating to:

With offices from coast to coast, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s main office is located in the National Capital Region. The Department is also comprised of the following three regions: Atlantic and Quebec Regions, Ontario Region and West and North Regions.  

For more information about Environment and Climate Change Canada, please visit our website.

Organizational Structure

As Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator, the Director of the Access to Information and Privacy Division has delegated authority on matters concerning Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP). The ATIP Division is part of the Corporate Secretariat, found within the Public Affairs and Communications Branch of the Department. It is the central coordinating body for all requests received by Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

The ATIP Division is the focal point for the administration, application and promotion of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and Privacy (PA) within Environment and Climate Change Canada. The ATIP Division has an oversight role to ensure compliance. It provides advice to senior management on the implementation of the statutes and prepares reports to Parliament, the Treasury Board Secretariat and senior management. The ATIP Division represents the Department in complaints and investigations conducted by the Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and in any Federal Court applications arising from ATIP matters.

The ATIP Division is organized into two functional areas: an Operations Unit, and a Policy and Governance Unit. Each unit is led by a manager who reports to the ATIP Director. As of March 31, 2024, the ATIP Division comprised of a total of 13 full time employees (FTEs). To help meet the increase in volume and complexity of requests, the Division also engaged the support of 2.5 consultants during the reporting period.

Diagram 1 – ECCC’s ATIP Division Organizational Structure

Text description – Diagram 1

Diagram 1 presents a breakdown of the organizational structure of ECCC’s ATIP Division in 2023-2024.

The ATIP Division is organized into two functional areas: an Operations Unit, and a Policy and Governance Unit. Each unit is led by a manager who reports to the ATIP Director. The ATIP Director is assisted by an administrative assistant. The Operations Unit Manager oversees activities related to intake and complex files, while the ATIP Policy and Governance Unit Manager oversees activities related to policy and governance as well as proactive publication

Operations Unit

The Operations Unit coordinates the management and processing of ECCC’s access to information and privacy requests. It leads the processing of all ECCC requests under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and performs a “line-by-line” review of records to support various disclosures including the appropriate sharing of investigation reports. The Operations Unit also serves as the liaison between the Department and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner on complaints related to requests under the Acts. The Operations Unit consists of one team leader, two senior advisors, one advisor, one analyst, two junior analysts, an administrative officer and a clerical assistant.

Policy and Governance Unit

The Policy and Governance Unit is the focal point for privacy expertise within ECCC. The unit leads the horizontal implementation of departmental privacy policy and conducts risk analyses, including privacy impact assessments and privacy protocols for non-administrative purposes. It delivers privacy compliance support for ECCC’s programs and services. The Policy and Governance Unit plays a key role in the management and prevention of privacy breaches.

The Policy and Governance Unit works collaboratively with departmental officials to fulfill the proactive publication requirements under Part 2 of the Access to Information Act and oversees its compliance. The unit develops ATIP directives, procedures and statistical reports, delivers training, promotes awareness, and prepares ATIP annual reports. The Policy and Governance Unit consists of two junior analysts.

Capacity Development

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) remains committed to recruiting, training and maintaining a workforce that possesses specialized skills to continue to provide the best possible service to both internal and external clients.

Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to focus on developing capacity through its ATIP Professional Development Program. The program aims to train employees over a period of three to five years through a combination of competency-based training, professional development training, and work assignments. Candidates enter the program at the PM-01 or PM-02 level and graduate as senior ATIP advisors at the PM-04 level.

In previous years, ECCC’s ATIP Professional Development Program centered on operational work focusing on the processing of access to information and privacy requests and responding to complaints from the Commissioners. In 2022, ECCC expanded its Professional Development Program to include privacy policy work to encompass policy compliance and advisory services, policy and risk management activities, reporting requirements and responding to complaints from the Commissioners.

The Professional Development Program enables the ATIP Division to better manage increasing workloads while facilitating succession planning through the transfer of corporate memory, encouraging staff to remain with the Department for a longer period of time.

Access to Information and Privacy Communities Development Office (APCDO) Membership

The Access to Information and Privacy Communities Development Office (APCDO) was established to address capacity issues in the Access to Information and Privacy communities across Government of Canada institutions subject to the Acts.

In 2022-2023, ECCC joined the newly formed APCDO. ECCC’s ATIP Division staff were active participants in several training sessions offered by the APCDO.

The APCDO will contribute to the development and sustainability of the Access to Information and Privacy communities via recruitment, retention, learning, networking, and partnership activities with a spirit of diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility through community engagement.

Capacity to Receive and Process Records in 2023-2024

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) receives requests by mail, email and online through the Government of Canada ATIP Online Request System.

In April 2023, the ATIP Division experienced labour disruptions during the general strike by Canadian federal worker members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). For a period of two weeks, the Division did not have the capacity to process paper or electronic records.

Delegation of Authority

Decision-making responsibility for the application of the various provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act have been formally established and are outlined in the departmental Delegation of Authority Instrument found in Appendix A of this report.

The Delegation Order in effect during the reporting period was approved by the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on June 21, 2022.

Interpretation of the Statistical Report

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act is included in Appendix B of this report.

Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, ECCC received 1,965 requests under the Access to Information Act. There were 1,905 requests carried forward from previous reporting periods, for a total of 3,870 active requests in the 2023–2024 reporting period.

In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, a total of 1,496 requests were completed, and 2,374 were carried forward to the next reporting period, with 366 requests carried over within legislative timelines and 2,008 carried over beyond legislative timelines.

Figure 1 displays a breakdown of the sources of access to information requests received in 2023–2024.

Figure 1 – Sources of Requests, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 1

Figure 1 shows a pie chart that represents the percentage breakdown of the sources of access to information requests that were received by the ATIP Division in 2023-2024.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, 74% of access requests came from businesses, 13% from the media, 1% from organizations, 7% from members of the public, 1% from academia and 4% declined to identify.

Of the 1,965 requests received, 1,924 were received online, submitted through the ATIP Online Request Service. During the 2023–2024 reporting period, 56 requests were abandoned by applicants for various reasons. There were 1,278 requests for information for which there were no records. ECCC receives a number of requests each year for documents pertaining to the environmental compliance of properties (such as spills, infractions or investigations). Ninety-three percent (93%) or 1,194 no record responses in 2023–2024 consisted of environmental compliance requests where no records were located concerning the properties in question. It should be noted that a ‘no records’ response is the requester’s desired outcome in these requests.   

Records were retrieved in response to 161 requests. Of these, 18% were all disclosed, 82% were disclosed in part, and no records were all exempted/excluded.

Figure 2 displays the number of access to information requests that were received by the ATIP Division from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024. In 2023–2024, ECCC received 6% less requests than the previous reporting period.

Figure 2 – Number of Requests Received, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 2

Figure 2 shows a bar graph that provides a visual representation of the number of access requests that were received by the ATIP Division from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 1,874 requests were received; in 2020-2021, 1,683 requests were received; in 2021-2022, 2,298 requests were received; in 2022-2023, 2,083 requests were received; and in 2023-2024, 1,965 requests were received.

Environment and Climate Change Canada completed 1,496 requests under the Access to Information Act in 2023–2024. Overall, 1,368 were completed within the legislative timeline, which represents 91% of all access requests closed during the reporting period.

The number of access to information requests that were closed by the ATIP Division from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024 is found in Figure 3.

Figure 3 – Number of Requests Closed, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a bar graph that provides a visual representation of the number of access requests that were closed by the ATIP Division from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 1,652 requests were closed; in 2020-2021, 1,251 requests were closed; in 2021-2022, 1,796 requests were closed; in 2022-2023, 1,856 requests were closed; and in 2023-2024, 1,496 requests were closed.

In the 2023–2024 reporting period, 351,524 pages of records were processed in response to access to information requests, which represents an increase of 280% in comparison to the 2022–2023 fiscal year.

The number of pages processed by the ATIP Division in response to requests under the Access to Information Act from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024 is found in Figure 4.

Figure 4 – Number of Pages Processed for Requests, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 4

Figure 4 shows a bar graph that provides a visual representation of the number of pages processed by the ATIP Division for access to information requests under the Access to Information Act from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 483,637 pages were processed; in 2020-2021, 38,650 pages were processed; in 2021-2022, 70,531 pages were processed; in 2022-2023, 92,510 pages were processed; and in 2023-2024, 351,524 pages were processed.

Exemptions and exclusions

The Access to Information Act prescribes a number of exemptions and exclusions that allow or require the Department to refuse to disclose certain types of information. The two most common exemptions invoked by ECCC in the 2023–2024 fiscal year were for personal information (section 19) and government operations (section 21).

Time limitations

During the 2023–2024 reporting period, 1,126 (75%) of the completed requests were processed within the initial 30-day period. This included 85 requests completed in the first 15 days, and 1041 requests completed between 16 and 30 days.

Figure 5 is a breakdown of completion times for requests closed during the 2023–2024 reporting period.

Figure 5 – Completion Time for Requests, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 5

Figure 5 shows a pie chart which displays the breakdown of completion times for requests completed during the 2023-2024 reporting period. ECCC’s ATIP Division closed 6% of requests in 1 to 15 days; 69% in 16 to 30 days; 15% in 31 to 60 days; 3% in 61 to 120 days; 1% in 121 to 180 days; 3% in 181 to 365 days and 3% in more than 365 days.

A total of 128 requests were completed beyond the legislated deadline. Of the 128 late requests, 96 requests were late due to heavy workloads.

Extension of time limits

Section 9 of the Access to Information Act allows government institutions to extend the deadline for responding to a request if the request requires the institution to search a large number of records, to consult with other government institutions, or to communicate with third parties. Requests may qualify for multiple extensions.

In 2023–2024, 55 requests required extensions of 30 days or less, three required an extension of between 31 and 60 days, 207 required an extension of between 61 to 120 days, 72 required an extension between 121 to 180 days and three required an extension between 181 to 365 days. In total, 285 requests required an extension past the original deadline of 30 days. Most extensions were required in order to conduct extensive searches.

Complexity of files

Among the 1,496 requests closed during the 2023–2024 reporting period, 24 were considered complex because of the requirement for consultation.

Of the requests closed by ECCC in 2023–2024, 13 required consultations with ECCC’s Legal Services to confirm Cabinet confidence exclusions.

Consultations

As an integral part of departmental processing procedures, other government institutions are consulted if access requests contain issues of interest to them. Although formal consultations are undertaken in writing, additional discussions between ATIP offices are initiated as required in order to facilitate the completion of each case. Consultations are also regularly undertaken with third parties and other levels of government.

As the environment is a shared jurisdiction, Environment and Climate Change Canada regularly receives access to information consultation requests from other federal and provincial departments that are processing files with records originating from or concerning the Department’s programs or services.

In 2023–2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada received 143 access to information consultations from other federal government institutions and 26 consultations from other organizations, for a total of 169 consultations received. There were 72 access consultations outstanding from the previous reporting period. In total, during the 2023–2024 reporting period, 173 consultations were completed. Sixty-eight (68) access consultations were carried forward to the 2024–2025 reporting period.

Figure 6 provides the number of accesses to information consultations that were received by the ATIP Division from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024.

Figure 6 – Number of Consultations Received, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 6

Figure 6 shows a bar graph which provides a visual representation of the number of access to information consultations that were received by the ATIP Secretariat from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 300 requests were received; in 2020-2021, 125 requests were received; in 2021-2022, 218 requests were received; in 2022-2023, 216 requests were received; and in 2023-2024, 169 requests were received.

The number of access to information consultations that were closed by the ATIP Division from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024 is found in Figure 7.

Figure 7 – Number of Consultations Closed, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 7

Figure 7 shows a bar graph which provides a visual representation of the number of access to information consultations that were closed by the ATIP Division from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 287 requests were closed; in 2020-2021, 120 requests were closed; in 2021-2022, 205 requests were closed; in 2022-2023, 229 requests were closed; and in 2023-2024, 173 requests were closed.

Figure 8 displays the number of pages processed by the ATIP Division in response to access to information consultations received from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024.

Figure 8 – Number of Pages Processed for Consultations, Access to Information Act

Text description – Figure 8

Figure 8 shows a bar graph which provides a visual representation of the number of pages processed by the ATIP Division in processing access to information consultations under the Access to Information Act from the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2019-2020 reporting period, 12,805 pages were processed; in 2020-2021, 4,448 pages were processed; in 2021-2022, 28,435 pages were processed, in 2022-2023, 19,405 pages were processed; and in 2023-2024, 6,823 pages were processed.

The number of pages processed in response to access to information consultations during the 2023–2024 reporting period decreased in comparison to the previous reporting period; 6,823 pages were processed for consultations compared to 19,405 pages during the previous period. This is a decrease of 65%.

Monitoring Compliance

The ATIP Division engaged departmental officials at various levels to ensure access to information requests were processed in a timely and efficient manner.

The ATIP Director met regularly with managers and team leaders to review performance data. Analysts are responsible for tracking timelines for requests. This was supplemented with regular bilateral meetings between analysts and management to obtain guidance and ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

In delivering its mandate, ECCC is involved in many horizontal initiatives. The ATIP Division continues to collaborate with program officials to streamline the need for consultations both within ECCC and with other government institutions. In addition, ECCC has enhanced its collaborative efforts with the Departmental Legal Services Unit. The ATIP Division also works collaboratively with programs to ensure that access and privacy requirements are reflected in contracts, MOUs, and information sharing agreements. ATIP is also focused on the development of tools, guides and policies to raise awareness, maintain compliance and report on access and privacy processes and procedures within ECCC. These tools will be implemented next fiscal year.

The ATIP Division produces weekly and monthly reports to senior management in order to monitor performance within Environment and Climate Change Canada. This includes reporting on the incoming requests, number of closed requests, and timelines of retrieval of records.

Access Informal Requests

Requests can be made for records previously released under the Access to Information Act. which are referred to as access informal requests. Summaries of previously released access to information requests are posted monthly on the Open Government website where the public can view the released records and request a copy. This forms part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to openness and transparency.

Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to process informal access to information requests as they come in. Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, the Department received 200 access informal requests and processed 199 requests. Four (4) requests were carried over to the next reporting period. These requests were received via the Open Government Registry Portal.

The ATIP Division assists other branches within the department in the review of various documents such as investigation reports, harassment complaint files and audit and evaluation reports. The ATIP review ensures that mandatory exemptions such as personal information and Cabinet confidence-related information are properly identified, where appropriate.

In 2023–2024, the ATIP Division processed one parliamentary question. The Division also provided advice to programs responding to other parliamentary questions.

Fees and Costs

With respect to fees collected under the Access to Information Act, the information below is reported in accordance with the requirements of section 20 of the Service Fees Act.

Training Activities

The ATIP Division provides daily advice to departmental officials on the processing of ATIP requests as well as the interpretation of the Acts to ensure the efficient and consistent processing of all requests received by the Department.

In 2023-2024, the ATIP Division continued to focus on providing targeted training and assistance to help ECCC staff respond to requests. During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, the ATIP Division conducted five (5) formal information and training sessions that were attended by approximately 95 ECCC employees. The sessions included an overview of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act as well as a description of internal policies and procedures.

Proactive Publication Under Part 2 of the Access to Information Act (ATIA)

The ATIP Division works in collaboration with departmental officials to fulfill the proactive publication legislative requirements found in Part 2 of the Access to Information Act. Sections 74 to 78 and 82 to 88 of Part 2 of the ATIA, stipulate that government entities that support a minister, are required to publish proactively travel expenses, hospitality expenses, reports tabled in parliament, reclassification of positions, contracts, grants and contributions, briefing materials, and expense reports. Within Environment and Climate Change Canada, this responsibility falls to the Public Affairs and Communications Branch, the Corporate Services and Finances Branch, the Human Resources Branch, and the Strategic Policy Branch, in collaboration with the ATIP Division. Executives within each Branch regularly monitor their compliance to ensure the accuracy and completeness of proactively published information.

Public Affairs and Communications Branch: Corporate Secretariat

Within the Public Affairs and Communications Branch (PACB), the Corporate Secretariat is responsible for proactively publishing briefing materials for the minister and deputy minister’s use at Parliamentary Committees, briefing note titles, Question Period notes and reports tabled in Parliament. These responsibilities are shared among three units within the Corporate Secretariat: the Parliamentary Affairs Unit, Operations and Departmental Briefing Unit, and the Access to Information and Privacy Division.

During the 2023-2024 reporting period, the ATIP Division collaborated with program leads in Parliamentary Affairs and the Operations and Departmental Briefing Unit to review and publish the relevant information in accordance with the legislative requirements. A summary list of completed access to information requests is also published on the Open Government Registry Portal on a monthly basis.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, PACB met the proactive publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%).

Table 1 lists the sections of Part 2 of the ATIA that the PACB is responsible for.

Table 1 – Compliance Rate of Proactive Publication Requirements for PACB, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Legislative Requirement Section Publication Timeline Compliance Rate Proactive Publication (web link) Institutional Requirement
Titles and reference numbers of memoranda prepared for a deputy head or equivalent, that is received by their office 88(b) Within 30 days after the end of the month received 100% Briefing Note Titles and Numbers (canada.ca) PACB
Packages of briefing materials prepared for a deputy head or equivalent’s appearance before a committee of Parliament 88(c) Within 120 days after appearance 100% Briefing materials - Canada.ca PACB
Reports tabled in Parliament 84 Within 30 days after tabling 100% Reports tabled in Parliament: Environment and Climate Change Canada - Canada.ca PACB
Titles and reference numbers of memoranda prepared by a government institution for the minister, that is received by their office 74(b) Within 30 days after the end of the month received 100% Briefing Note Titles and Numbers (canada.ca) PACB
Package of question period notes prepared by a government institution for the minister and in use on the last sitting day of the House of Commons in June and December 74(c) Within 30 days after last sitting day of the House of Common in June and December 100% Question Period Notes (canada.ca) PACB
Packages of briefing materials prepared by a government institution for a minister’s appearance before a committee of Parliament 74(d) Within 120 days after appearance 100% Briefing materials - Canada.ca PACB
Text description – Table 1

Table 1 lists the sections of Part 2 of the ATIA for which the Public Affairs and Communications Branch (PACB) is responsible for. This includes the proactive publication of briefing materials for the minister and deputy minister’s use at Parliamentary Committees, briefing note titles, Question Period notes and reports tabled in parliament.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the PACB met the proactive publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%).

Corporate Services and Finance Branch

The Corporate Services and Finance Branch (CSFB) oversees the proactive publication of travel and hospitality expenses, contracts over $10,000, and grants and contributions over $25,000 for both the department and the minister’s office.

The CSFB is responsible for providing internal corporate services in support of ECCC programs. The Branch supports programs in the allocation and management of funds, assets, and contracts; provides IM and IT solutions and supports digital delivery; delivers on government-wide enterprise initiatives; ensures a secure and inclusive workplace; and develops corporate tools and reports to demonstrate alignment of departmental priorities, results and accountabilities to the Canadian public.

During the 2023-2024 reporting period, the CSFB met the proactive publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%) for the disclosure of Travel Expenses, Hospitality Expenses, Contracts over $10,000, Grants and Contributions over $25,000 and Ministerial Contracts over 10,000. The proactive publication requirements for Ministerial Travel Expenses were met at a compliance rate of seventy-five percent (75%) and for Ministerial Hospitality Expenses at a compliance rate of ninety-two percent (92%). The CSFB has a rigorous monthly process in place to review hospitality and travel expenses for proactive disclosure in accordance with the Access to Information Act. All expenses were disclosed, although in some cases the publication deadline was not met for administrative reasons.

Table 2 lists the sections of Part 2 of the ATIA that the CSFB is responsible for.

Table 2 – Compliance Rate of Proactive Publication Requirements for CSFB, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Legislative Requirement Section Publication Timeline Compliance Rate Proactive Publication (web link) Institutional Requirement
Travel Expenses 82 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement 100% Government Travel Expenses (canada.ca) CSFB
Hospitality Expenses 83 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement 100% Search Government Hospitality Expenses | Open Government, Government of Canada CSFB
Contracts over $10,000 86

Q1-3: Within 30 days after the quarter

Q4: Within 60 days after the quarter

100% Search Government Contracts over $10,000 (canada.ca) CSFB
Grants & Contributions over $25,000 87 Within 30 days after the quarter 100% Grants and Contributions (canada.ca) CSFB
Ministerial Travel Expenses 75 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement 75% Government Travel Expenses (canada.ca) CSFB
Ministerial Hospitality Expenses 76 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement 92% Search Government Hospitality Expenses | Open Government, Government of Canada CSFB
Ministerial Contracts over $10,000 77

Q1-3: Within 30 days after the quarter

Q4: Within 60 days after the quarter

100% Search Government Contracts over $10,000 (canada.ca) CSFB
Text description – Table 2

Table 2 lists the sections of Part 2 of the ATIA for which the Corporate Services and Finance Branch (CSFB) is responsible for. This includes the proactive publication of travel and hospitality expenses, contracts over $10,000, and grants and contributions over $25,000 for both the department and the minister’s office.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the CSFB met the proactive publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%) except for its travel (75%) and hospitality expenses (92%).

Human Resources Branch

ECCC’s Human Resources Branch (HRB) is responsible for the development and implementation of an integrated framework of human resources strategies, policies, programs and advisory services.

The HRB oversees the proactive publication of the reclassification of positions. During the 2023-2024 reporting period, the HRB met the publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%).

Table 3 lists the section of Part 2 of the ATIA that the HRB is responsible for.

Table 3 – Compliance Rate of Proactive Publication Requirements for HRB, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Legislative Requirement Section Publication Timeline Compliance Rate Proactive Publication (web link) Institutional Requirement
Reclassification of positions 85 Within 30 days after the quarter 100% Search Government Position Reclassifications | Open Government, Government of Canada HRB
Text description – Table 3

Table 3 lists the section of Part 2 of the ATIA for which the Human Resources Branch (HRB) is responsible for, which is the reclassification of positions.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the HRB met the proactive publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%).

Strategic Policy Branch

The Strategic Policy Branch realizes policy analysis and provides policy advice to advance the Department’s priorities. It also leads and coordinates the development of policies for the Department and the environment portfolio and prepares the transition materials for both the Minister and the Deputy Minister.

Part 2 of the ATIA sections 88(a) and 74(a) require the proactive publication of packages of briefing materials prepared for new or incoming deputy heads or equivalent, and packages of briefing materials prepared by a government institution for new or incoming ministers. While there was no Ministerial transition during the fiscal year, in September 2023, Jean-François Tremblay was appointed as Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

During the 2023-2024 reporting period, the STB met the publication requirements at a compliance rate of one hundred percent (100%).

Table 4 lists the section of Part 2 of the ATIA that the STB is responsible for.

Legislative Requirement Section Publication Timeline Compliance Rate Proactive Publication (web link) Institutional Requirement
Packages of briefing materials prepared for new or incoming deputy heads or equivalent 88(a) Within 120 days after appointment 100% (2/2) Briefing materials - Canada.ca SPB

Policies, Guidelines, Procedures and Reporting

Policy Framework

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s access to information policy framework was approved in November 2012. No significant changes were brought to the access to information policy framework in 2023–2024.

A number of ATIP processes were reviewed to identify opportunities for improvement. Procedures were put in place to manage electronic documents and deploy new strategies to assist program staff to retrieve and prepare records in response to requests. The ATIP Division continues to refine these processes as we pivot to work with modern tools and an advanced case management system in the administration of the Acts.

Reporting

The ATIP Division regularly monitors the timeliness and trends associated with the processing of requests through ongoing communication with branch and directorate liaisons. This includes providing performance reports on the status of the branch on a regular basis. In addition, weekly reports on new requests received are provided to the Deputy Minister’s Office and to the Communications Directorate. ATIP updates are also provided to ECCC’s Executive Management Committee.

Publicly Accessible Information and Inquiry Points

Info Source is a series of publications containing information on the Government of Canada and its data collection activities. Info Source is intended to help the public access government information and to exercise their rights under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

The ATIP Division is responsible for providing updates on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s activities and information holdings for publication in Info Source on the Department’s website. In the 2023-2024 reporting period, ECCC updated and published its Info Source Chapter to reflect newly published documents and updated manuals available to the public.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s comprehensive website provides information on the Department’s policies, its organizational structure and the means to contact departmental officials. In accordance with the federal government’s policy of proactive disclosure, the Department’s website also allows access to internal evaluations and audits, as well as information on hospitality expenses, contracts and grants.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s website has an access to information and privacy webpage that provides background information on both the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It also contains a Frequently Asked Questions section and links to access to information request forms, personal information request forms and summaries of completed access to information requests.

In order to facilitate public access to information and to comply with the Act, a designated public reading room is located in the Place Vincent Massey Annex, 351 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec.

Initiatives and Projects to Improve Access to Information

During the 2023-2024 reporting period, the ATIP Division developed a business case to procure a new case management system for processing requests and managing and tracking policy requirements. The business case was reviewed and approved by senior management. The ATIP Division proceeded to initiate the procurement process which was underway at the end of the reporting period. The implementation of the new case management system will help streamline both operational and policy initiatives. The new ATIP request processing software, ATIPXpress, was due to be implemented in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, however, it has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances within the department. The software is now projected for full implementation in the coming year.

In the upcoming year, ECCC’s ATIP Division will continue to refine its electronic retrieval processes with the assistance of the new case management system. These process improvements, along with increased onsite presence, are expected to further advance ATIP performance and assist in reducing the backlog.

The Policy and Governance Unit of the ATIP Division continues to develop its activities related to Privacy Act compliance, including the incorporation of privacy provisions within contractual agreements involving personal information, ensuring that outreach activities and stakeholder engagement adheres to the privacy policy requirements, and that any privacy risks associated with new ECCC programs or services are identified and mitigated.

Online Request Service

Environment and Climate Change Canada participates in the Treasury Board Secretariat Online Request Service.

Environment and Climate Change Canada received 1,924 access to information requests through the online management system during the 2023–2024 reporting period. This represents 98% of the total number of access requests received by the Department.

Complaints, Audits, Investigations and Appeals

Applicants have the right to register a complaint with the Information Commissioner of Canada regarding any matter relating to the processing of a request. The Department works collaboratively with the Commissioner’s Office to resolve complaints, providing the requester with a resolution.

During the 2023–2024 reporting period, twenty-nine (29) complaints were filed against ECCC with the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC). ECCC provided representations to the OIC in thirteen (13) complaints. The Department received a report of findings for fourteen (14) complaints. complaints were discontinued.

Table 4 provides a breakdown of the results of the investigations of the forty-one (41) complaints closed in 2023–2024. Of the ninety-nine forty-one (41) complaints, twelve (12) complaints related to processing delays, twenty-two (22) complaints pertained to extensions, five (5) complaints concerned the application of exemptions, and two (2) complaints related to general refusals.

Table 4 – Results of Complaints Investigations, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Results of Investigations Number of Decisions
Well founded 12
Not well founded 4
Resolved (ceased to investigate) 24
Discontinued 1
Total 41
Text description – Table 4

Table 4 provides a breakdown of the results of the investigations of the 41 complaints closed by the ATIP Division in 2023-2024.

Of the 41 complaints, 12 complaints were deemed well founded; four (4) complaints were deemed not well founded; 24 complaints were resolved; and one (1) complaint was discontinued.

In 2023-2024, ECCC received five (5) initial reports from the Information Commissioner. Two (2) initial reports contained a recommendation and four (4) contained a notice that she intended to issue an order. ECCC received eight (8) final reports, five (5) of which contained a recommendation and three (3) of which contained orders. ECCC implemented all three orders received.

There were no recommendations raised by other Agents of Parliament during the reporting period.

Summary of Key Issues and Actions Taken on Complaints

This fiscal year, ECCC’s ATIP Division worked collaboratively with the Office of Information Commissioner to close outstanding complaints. These efforts resulted in the closure of forty-one (41) complaints.

The Department reviews the outcomes of all Office of the Information Commissioner investigations and, where appropriate, incorporates lessons learned into business processes.

Of note, during the reporting period, a number of complaints on requests delayed as a result of the COVID-19 measures were completed.  In addition, the department reconsidered the application of exemptions and released supplementary in some requests.

Applications/Appeals to the Federal Court or Federal Court of Appeal

There were no applications or appeals filed to the Federal Court or Federal Court of Appeal during the 2023-2024 reporting period.

Interpretation of Supplementary Statistical Report

The Supplementary Statistical Report provides a breakdown by year of the requests and complaints under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and Privacy Act (PA) that remain active at the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) was able to receive requests by mail, email and through the online portal throughout the 2023–2024 fiscal year. However, there was a period of two-weeks whereby the ATIP Division had no capacity to process paper or electronic records resulting from PSAC federal employees labour disruptions.

The Department continues to focus on building capacity and is working diligently to close files and complaints carried over to the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

Caseload and Carry Forward

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, ECCC had a total of 3,870 requests under the ATIA. Of this total, 1,965 requests were received in 2023-2024 while 1,905 requests were outstanding from previous reporting periods. Environment and Climate Change Canada closed 1,496 requests and 2,374 requests were carried over to the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

The ATIP Division continues to work diligently to reduce the accumulated inventory of ATIP requests. The existing backlog resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic measures coupled with PSAC federal employees labour disruptions in 2023 increased the ECCC backlog. Although the ATIP Division continues to work diligently to reduce the accumulated backlog, the day-to-day operational demand and work on managing complaints remains a priority.

During the reporting period, the ATIP Division worked diligently to enhance productivity with a limited number of full-time employees and closed 76% of the number of requests received during the reporting period.

Data Quality

At times, small data variances may exist in numbers reported from year to year, primarily in the previously reported number of outstanding requests carried forward into the current fiscal year. Several reasons contribute to the inevitable shifts in data. While rigorous processes are in place to support data accuracy, the measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with unexpected absences and a limited number of staff can at times result in a delay in the closure of a file that should have been reflected in the previous fiscal year. Other reasons to explain data shifts include requests by the Office of the Information Commissioner to re-open requests in the context of complaint resolution, and requesters seeking to divide one incoming request into several files while retaining the initial date received.

Table 5 presents a breakdown of the requests carried over to the next reporting period.

Table 5 – Number of Requests Carried Over, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Fiscal Year Open Requests Were Received Open Requests that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2024 Open Requests that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2024 Total
Received in 2023-2024 241 377 618
Received in 2022-2023 21 356 377
Received in 2021-2022 69 427 496
Received in 2020-2021 31 311 342
Received in 2019-2020 1 241 244
Received in 2018-2019 0 125 126
Received in 2017-2018 0 47 47
Received in 2016-2017 0 66 66
Received in 2015-2016 0 29 29
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0 29 29
Total 366 2008 2374
Text description – Table 5

Table 5 presents a breakdown of the number of requests that were carried over to the next reporting period by the ATIP Division from the 2014-2015 fiscal year or earlier to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

During the 2023-2024 reporting period, 366 open requests were carried over to the next reporting period within legislated timelines as of March 31st, 2024, whereas 2,008 requests were carried over to the next reporting period beyond legislated timelines as of March 31st, 2024.

Table 6 presents a breakdown of active complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada, carried over to the 2023–2024 fiscal year.

Table 6 – Number of Active Complaints Carried Over, Access to Information Act, 2023-2024
Fiscal Year Open Complaints Were Received by Institution Number of Open Complaints
Received in 2023-2024 13
Received in 2022-2023 2
Received in 2021-2022 0
Received in 2020-2021 1
Received in 2019-2020 0
Received in 2018-2019 0
Received in 2017-2018 0
Received in 2016-2017 0
Received in 2015-2016 0
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0
Total 16
Text description – Table 6

Table 6 presents a breakdown of the number of active complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada from the 2014-2015 fiscal year or earlier to the 2023-2024 fiscal year that were carried over to the 2024-2025 fiscal year by the ATIP Division.

Of the complaints received during the 2020-2021 reporting period, one (1) open complaint was carried over; in 2022-2023, two (2) open complaints were carried over; and in 2023-2024, 13 open complaints were carried over.

Appendix A: Delegation Order Instrument

Access to Information and Privacy Acts Delegation Order

I, the undersigned, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, pursuant to section 95 of the Access to Information Act and section 73 of the Privacy Act, hereby delegate the persons holding the positions set out in the Delegation of Authority Schedule attached hereto, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers, duties and functions of the Minister as head of Environment and Climate Change Canada, under the provisions of the Act and related regulations set out in the schedule opposite each position. This delegation replaces all previous delegation orders.

Schedule
Position Access to Information Act,
and Regulations
Privacy Act
and Regulations
Deputy Minister of the Environment Full authority Full authority
Associated Deputy Minister of the Environment Full authority Full authority
Director General, Corporate Secretariat Full authority Full authority
Director, Access to Information and Privacy Full authority Full authority
Manager, Access to Information and Privacy Full authority Full authority
Team Leader, Access to Information and Privacy 7(a), 8, 9 & 11 15

Dated at the City of Gatineau, Quebec, this June 21, 2022

(signed)

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

Appendix B: Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act

Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act

Name of institution: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Reporting period:  April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Section 1: Requests under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Number of requests
Category Number of requests
Received during reporting period 1965
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 1905
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
497 -
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
1408
Total 3870
Closed during reporting period 1496
Carried over to next reporting period 2374
  • Carried over within legislated timeline
366 -
  • Carried over beyond legislated timeline
2008
1.2 Sources of requests
Source Number of requests
Media 253
Academia 28
Business (private sector) 1442
Organization 28
Public 144
Decline to Identify 70
Total 1965
1.3 Channels of requests
Source Number of requests
Online 1924
E-mail 0
Mail 41
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 1965

Section 2: Informal requests

2.1 Number of informal requests
Source Number of requests
Received during reporting period 200
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 3
  • Outstanding from previous reporting period
3 -
  • Outstanding from more than one reporting period
0
Total 203
Closed during reporting period 199
Carried over to next reporting period 4
2.2 Channels of informal requests
Source Number of requests
Online 0
E-mail 200
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 200
2.3 Completion time of informal requests
Completion time
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
101 49 47 2 0 0 0 199
2.4 Pages released informally
Less than 100 pages released 100-500 pages released 501-1000 pages released 1001-5000 pages released More than 5000 pages released
Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2.5 Pages re-released informally
Less than 100 pages re-released 100-500
pages re-released
501-1000
pages re-released
1001-5000
pages re-released
More than 5000
pages re-released
Number of requests Pages re-released Number of requests Pages re-released Number of requests Pages re-released Number of requests Pages re-released Number of requests Pages re-released
111 3355 37 9878 4 3138 44 88157 3 87954

Section 3: Applications to the Information Commissioner on declining to act on requests

Source Number of requests
Outstanding from previous reporting period 0
Sent during reporting period 0
Total 0
Approved by the Information Commissioner during reporting period 0
Declined by the Information Commissioner during reporting period 0
Withdrawn during reporting period 0
Carried over to next reporting period 0

Section 4: Requests closed during the reporting period

4.1 Disposition and completion time
Disposition of requests Completion time
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
All disclosed 1 8 5 5 3 4 3 29
Disclosed in part 3 2 13 26 12 35 41 132
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
No records exist 45 1021 199 7 3 3 0 1278
Request transferred 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Request abandoned 35 10 4 1 1 0 5 56
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 85 1041 221 39 19 42 49 1496
4.2 Exemptions
Section Number of requests
13(1)(a) 5
13(1)(b) 1
13(1)(c) 16
13(1)(d) 2
13(1)(e) 1
14 32
14(a) 8
14(b) 0
15(1) 15
15(1) - International Affairs 0
15(1) - Defence of Canada 0
15(1) - Subversive Activities 0
16(1)(a)(i) 0
16(1)(a)(ii) 0
16(1)(a)(iii) 0
16(1)(b) 1
16(1)(c) 1
16(1)(d) 0
16(2) 33
16(2)(a) 0
16(2)(b) 0
16(2)(c) 8
16(3) 0
16.1(1)(a) 0
16.1(1)(b) 0
16.1(1)(c) 0
16.1(1)(d) 0
16.2(1) 0
16.3 0
16.4(1)(a) 0
16.4(1)(b) 0
16.5 0
16.6 0
17 0
18(a) 2
18(b) 0
18(c) 0
18(d) 0
18.1(1)(a) 0
18.1(1)(b) 0
18.1(1)(c) 0
18.1(1)(d) 0
19(1) 86
20(1)(a) 0
20(1)(b) 30
20(1)(b.1) 0
20(1)(c) 11
20(1)(d) 3
20.1 0
20.2 0
20.4 0
21(1)(a) 66
21(1)(b) 69
21(1)(c) 5
21(1)(d) 0
22 0
22.1(1) 0
23 15
23.1 0
24(1) 1
26 0
4.3 Exclusions
Section Number of requests
68(a) 0
68(b) 0
68(c) 0
68.1 0
68.2(a) 0
68.2(b) 0
69(1) 0
69(1)(a) 0
69(1)(b) 0
69(1)(c) 0
69(1)(d) 0
69(1)(e) 0
69(1)(f) 0
69(1)(g) re (a) 16
69(1)(g) re (b) 0
69(1)(g) re (c) 13
69(1)(g) re (d) 3
69(1)(g) re (e) 10
69(1)(g) re (f) 9
69.1(1) 0
4.4 Format of information released
Paper Electronic Other
E-record Data set Video Audio
3 157 0 0 0 1

4.5 Complexity

4.5.1 Relevant pages processed and disclosed for paper and e-record formats
Number of pages processed Number of pages disclosed Number of requests
351524 56399 217
4.5.2 Relevant pages processed per request disposition for paper and e-record formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 100
pages processed
100-500
pages processed
501-1000
pages processed
1001-5000
pages processed
More than 5000 pages processed
Number of requests Pages
processed
Number of
requests
Pages
processed
Number of
requests
Pages
processed
Number of requests Pages
processed
Number of requests Pages
processed
All disclosed 24 603 3 532 0 0 2 5711 0 0
Disclosed in part 81 1966
24 5338 8 5959 16 36083 3 292641
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 53 5 1 177 1 780 1 1729 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 158 2574 28 6047 9 6739 19 43523 3 292641
4.5.3 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for audio formats
Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
0 0 0
4.5.4 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for audio formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 60 minutes
processed
60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request
abandoned
0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.5.5 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for video formats
Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
0 0 0
4.5.6 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for video formats by size of requests
Disposition Less than 60 minutes
processed
60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of
requests
Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.5.7 Other complexities
Disposition Consultation required Legal advice sought Other Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 24 0 0 27
All exempted 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0 0 0
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0
Total 24 0 0 24

4.6 Closed requests

4.6.1 Requests closed within legislated timelines
Number of requests closed within legislated timelines 1368
Percentage of requests closed within legislated timelines (%) 91.44385027

4.7 Deemed refusals

4.7.1 Reasons for not meeting legislated timelines
Number of requests closed past the legislated timelines Principal reason
Interference with operations/workload External consultation Internal consultation Other
128 96 15 8 9
4.7.2 Requests closed beyond legislated timelines (including any extension taken)
Number of days past legislated timelines Number of requests past legislated timeline where no extension was taken Number of requests past legislated timeline where an extension was taken Total
1 to 15 days 2 12 14
16 to 30 days 2 12 14
31 to 60 days 2 12 14
61 to 120 days 0 `17` 17
121 to 180 days 0 9 9
181 to 365 days 2 28 30
More than 365 days 1 29 30
Total 9 119 128
4.8 Requests for translation
Translation requests Accepted Refused Total
English to French 0 0 0
French to English 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

Section 5: Extensions

5.1 Reasons for extensions and disposition of requests
Disposition of requests where an extension was taken 9(1)(a)
Interference with
operations/ workload
9(1)(b)
Consultation
9(1)
Third-party notice
Section 69 Other
All disclosed 16 0 8 2
Disclosed in part 122 0 93 37
All exempted 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 10 0 6 4
No records exist 31 0 5 6
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0
Total 179 0 112 49
5.2 Length of extensions
Length of extensions 9(1)(a)
Interference with
operations/ workload
9(1)(b)
Consultation
9(1)
Third-party notice
Section 69 Other
30 days or less 55 0 0 0
31 to 60 days 2 0 1 0
61 to 120 days 90 0 78 39
121 to 180 days 31 0 32 9
181 to 365 days 1 0 1 1
365 days or more 0 0 0 0
Total 179 0 112 49

Section 6: Fees

Fee type Fee collected Fee waived Fee refunded
Number of requests Amount Number of requests Amount Number of requests Amount
Application 1856 $9,280.00 109 $545.00 0 $0.00
Other fees 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Total 1856 $9,280.00 109 $545.00 0 $0.00

Section 7: Consultations received from other institutions and organizations

7.1 Consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions and other organizations
Consultations Other Government of Canada institutions Number of pages to
review
Other organizations Number of pages to review
Received during the reporting period 143 7252 26 1346
Outstanding from the previous reporting period 62 6627 10 355
Total 205 13879 36 1701
Closed during the reporting period 145 5410 28
1413
Carried over within negotiated timelines 8 1625 0 0
Carried over beyond negotiated timelines 52 6844 8 288
7.2 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions
Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely 23 11 28 11 2 1 1 77
Disclose in part 1 8 14 31 1 4 4 63
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 5
Total 26 20 42 42 3 5 7 145
7.3 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other organizations outside the Government of Canada
Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely 5 5 3 1 0 0 0 14
Disclose in part 1 4 2 3 0 2 1 13
Exempt entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Total 7 9 5 4 0 2 1 28

Section 8: Completion time of consultations on Cabinet confidences

8.1 Requests with Legal Services
Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 101-500
pages processed
501-1000
pages processed
1001-5000
pages processed
More than 5000
pages processed
Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed
1 to 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 1 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 3 34 1 55 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 3 40 1 218 1 896 3 2765 0 0
Total 7 91 2 273 1 896 3 2765 0 0
8.2 Requests with Privy Council Office
Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 101-500
pages processed
501-1000
pages processed
1001-5000
pages processed
More than 5000
pages processed
Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed
1 to 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 9: Investigations and reports of finding

9.1 Investigations
Section 32
Notice of
intention to investigate
Subsection 30(5)
Ceased to investigate
Section 35
Formal representations
29 20 1
9.2 Investigations and reports of finding
Section 37(1) Initial reports Section 37(2) Final reports
Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner
5 2 4 8 5 3

Section 10: Court action

10.1 Court actions on complaints
Section 41
Complainant (1) Institution (2) Third party (3) Privacy Commissioner (4) Total
0 0 0 0 0
10.2 Court actions on third party notifications under paragraph 28(1)(b)
Section 44 - under paragraph 28(1)(b)
0

Section 11: Resources related to the Access to Information Act

11.1 Allocated costs
Expenditures Amount
Salaries $1,021,541
Overtime $0
Goods and Services $545,706
  • Professional services contracts
$476,246  
  • Other
$69,460
Total $1,567,247
11.2 Human resources
Resources Person years dedicated to access to information activities
Full-time employees 10.160
Part-time and casual employees 0.740
Regional staff 0.000
Consultants and agency personnel 2.400
Students 0.000
Total 13.300

Note: Enter values to three decimal places.

Appendix C: Supplemental Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act

Name of institution: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Reporting period: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Section 1: Open requests and complaints under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods.
Fiscal year open requests were received Open requests that are within legislated timelines as of March 31, 2024 Open requests that are beyond legislated timelines as of March 31, 2024 Total
Received in 2023-2024 241 377 618
Received in 2022-2023 21 356 377
Received in 2021-2022 69 427 496
Received in 2020-2021 31 311 342
Received in 2019-2020 3 241 244
Received in 2018-2019 1 125 126
Received in 2017-2018 0 47 47
Received in 2016-2017 0 66 66
Received in 2015-2016 0 29 29
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0 29 29
Total 366 2008 2374
1.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods.
Fiscal year open complaints were received by institution Number of open complaints
Received in 2023-2024 13
Received in 2022-2023 2
Received in 2021-2022 0
Received in 2020-2021 1
Received in 2019-2020 0
Received in 2018-2019 0
Received in 2017-2018 0
Received in 2016-2017 0
Received in 2015-2016 0
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0
Total 16

Section 2: Open requests and complaints under the Privacy Act

2.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods.
Fiscal year open requests were received Open requests that are within legislated timelines as of March 31, 2023 Open requests that are beyond legislated timelines as of March 31, 2023 Total
Received in 2023-2024 2 22 24
Received in 2022-2023 1 5 6
Received in 2021-2022 2 4 6
Received in 2020-2021 0 3 3
Received in 2019-2020 0 7 7
Received in 2018-2019 0 1 1
Received in 2017-2018 0 2 2
Received in 2016-2017 1 3 4
Received in 2015-2016 0 0 0
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0 0 0
Total 6 47 53
2.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods.
Fiscal year open complaints were received by institution Number of open complaints
Received in 2023-2024 2
Received in 2022-2023 0
Received in 2021-2022 0
Received in 2020-2021 0
Received in 2019-2020 0
Received in 2018-2019 0
Received in 2017-2018 0
Received in 2016-2017 0
Received in 2015-2016 0
Received in 2014-2015 or earlier 0
Total 2

Section 3: Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Did your institution receive authority for a new collection or new consistent use of the SIN in 2022-2023 No

Section 4: Universal access under the Privacy Act

How many requests were received from confirmed foreign national outside of Canada in 2022-2023? 0

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