2024 to 2025 Annual Report on the Access to Information Act

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Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

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Ottawa, ON K1R 7Y2

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ISSN 2816-9816

©His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Finance Canada, November, 2025.

Aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Rapport annuel sur la Loi sur l’accès à l’information 2024-2025

Introduction

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC or the Agency) is pleased to submit to Parliament its annual report on the administration of the Access to Information Act (the Act or ATIA) for the reporting period commencing on April 1, 2024 and ending on March 31, 2025. The Act, effective since July 1, 1983, grants Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and others in Canada the right to access government records, with some exceptions.

As required by the ATIA reporting framework, this report was prepared and tabled in accordance with section 94 of the Act and section 20 of the Service Fees Act. FCAC did not have any non-operational (“paper”) subsidiaries during this reporting period.

Organizational structure

FCAC is a federal agency that protects financial consumers by supervising financial entities and promoting financial literacy. The FCAC Act defines the Agency’s roles and the laws it oversees. The Commissioner is the designated head of FCAC for the purposes of the Access to Information Act. Certain authorities under the Act have been delegated to the Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services, the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Coordinator, and a Senior ATIP Advisor. Together, they ensure compliance with the legislation, including Part 2 – Proactive Publication of Information.

• Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services: Supports the Commissioner by overseeing corporate services and ensuring that the Agency’s operations align with the requirements of the Act.
• ATIP Coordinator (Manager, Security and Administration, Corporate Services): Responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing effective policies, guidelines, systems, and procedures to ensure the Agency meets its obligations under the Act. This includes appropriate processing, protection, and disclosure of information, as well as approving the release of records under delegated authority.
• Senior ATIP Advisor: Provides expert advice and support in administering the Act to ensure ongoing compliance with legislative requirements.

As required by the ATIA reporting framework:

• FCAC was not party to any service agreements under section 96 of the ATIA during this reporting period.
• The main responsibilities regarding Part 2 - Proactive Publication of Information are separated among the procurement, finance, the Secretariat, and ATIP teams, to ensure that each proactive publication requirement is met.

Delegation order

The Delegation Order sets out the powers, duties, and functions for the administration of the Act that have been delegated by the Agency’s Commissioner as the head of the institution. The Delegation Order is attached as Appendix A.

Performance under Part 1 of the Access to Information Act, 2024–2025

The Agency responded to 90% of the requests received by FCAC within the legislated timeline. As of the last day of the reporting period, there were no active requests or complaints. The Agency completed 11 requests, broken down as follows:

• 1 was completed within 15 days
• 7 were completed within 30 days
• 1 was completed within 60 days, and
• 2 were completed within between 121 and 180 days

The Agency’s reason for the two extension was the need to consult with other government departments and a third party. Additionally, 66% of the completed requests resulted in records being “disclosed in part,” while none of the records were “fully disclosed.”

The Agency did not receive any consultations from external organizations, but did receive 8 consultations from other government institutions. Of these, 4 consultations were processed within 15 days of receipt, 3 consultations were processed within 16 to 30 days of receipt, and 1 consultation was processed within 31 to 60 days of receipt. The Agency recommended full disclosure for 3 consultations, partial disclosure for 4 consultations, and a full exemption for the remaining consultation.

Training and awareness

ATIP training was incorporated into FCAC’s onboarding process for new employees. A coaching approach was applied for staff involved in access to information and privacy procedures and for staff involved in Part 2 – Proactive Publication of Information. This approach included explaining individual responsibilities, outlining retrieval obligations and workflows, and monitoring how and when retrieval obligations and workflows were applied. The Agency also continued to enforce mandatory training through the Canada School of Public Service for Office of Primary Interest (OPI) staff. Additionally, FCAC promoted awareness of access to information and privacy by publishing related content on its internal website during Access to Information and Privacy Week.

Policies, guidelines and procedures

The Agency applied the Access to Information Act along with the Treasury Board Secretariat’s policies, procedures, and guidelines for processing requests. It also refined internal procedures and policy for handling access to information requests. The Agency concluded that its current proactive publication process meets the requirements outlined in Part 2 of the Access to Information Act. As a result, no additional review was undertaken.

Initiatives and projects to improve access to information

To modernize service delivery and enhance information management and request processing, the Agency continues to use ATIP Online Management Tools V4 as part of its procedures. In addition, the Agency has acquired a Request Processing Software Solution, which is currently in the implementation phase.

Summary of key issues and actions taken on complaints

During this reporting period, the Agency did not receive any complaints from the Office of Information Commissioner (OIC). 

Proactive publication under Part 2 of the ATIA

Monitoring compliance

FCAC monitors processing times by recording all actions and activities in a database. Timelines are set based on legislated timeframes and adjusted when extensions are needed. Reports are generated and shared with the ATIP Coordinator as required. To support the right of public access to information regarding FCACs contracts, information-sharing agreements and information-sharing arrangements, the data is securely stored in a database that remains accessible via the Access to Information process. The Agency also tracks the accuracy and completeness of proactively published information using the same system, with timelines aligned to legislative requirements. Monthly and quarterly reports are produced depending on the type of information, and shared with the ATIP Coordinator when necessary.

Appendix A – Delegation order

Access to Information Act Delegation Order

The Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, pursuant to section 95 of the Access to Information Act, hereby designates the following persons to exercise or perform the powers, duties or functions of the head of the institution set out in the sections of the act indicated next to each position.

Original signed by

Werner Liedtke
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

Date: July 2, 2024