Access to Information Act - Annual Report 2025-2026

Introduction

The purpose of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) is to enhance the accountability and transparency of federal institutions, to promote an open and democratic society, and to enable public debate on the conduct of those institutions.

This Annual Report for 2025-2026 is presented to Parliament in accordance with section 94 of the ATIA, which requires government institutions to report annually on their administration of the Act.

The Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP, or the Committee) assists the Committee in fulfilling its mandate. The mandate of the Committee is to review:

  1. the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative, and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
  2. any activity carried out by a department or agency that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation, and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security; and
  3. any matter relating to national security or intelligence referred to it by a minister of the Crown.

The Committee is required to submit to the Prime Minister an annual report of the reviews it conducted during the preceding year. It may also issue a special report at any time on any matter related to its mandate.

Through the reports tabled in Parliament and the various outreach activities to non-governmental organizations, academics and university students, the Secretariat aims to be as transparent as possible, within the parameters of the NSICOP Act.

In 2025-2026, the Secretariat assisted the Committee in preparing and submitting its 2025 Annual Report and a Special Report on the Lawful Access to Communications by Security and Intelligence Organization to the Prime Minister. Both reports have since been tabled in Parliament. The Secretariat also supported the Committee’s review of the role of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, as well as the initiation of the review of Canada’s framework for countering terrorist financing.

Organizational structure

The Secretariat is led by an Executive Director, appointed by the Governor in Council, who oversees all administrative and operational matters. The Executive Director has delegated authority under the ATIA pursuant to a Delegation Order signed by the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, which empowers the Executive Director to exercise the powers and duties under the ATIA. The Executive Director has assigned the coordination of and response to ATIA and Privacy Act requests to the Manager, Corporate and Administrative Services.

The Secretariat applies the policies and guidelines of the Treasury Board on access to information and privacy.  

The Secretariat did not have any new or pre-existing service agreements under section 96 of the Access to Information Act during this reporting period.

For a breakdown of the group(s) and/or position(s) responsible for meeting each applicable proactive publication requirement under Part 2 of the Access to Information Act, see the section Proactive Publication under Part 2 of the ATIA, below.

Delegation order

The designated Minister for the purposes of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) as it applies to the Secretariat is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (LGHC).

The Delegation Order was signed by the LGHC in 2023 and is available on file. The persons holding the positions or acting in the positions of Executive Director and Director of Operations and Senior Counsel have full delegation to exercise or perform any of the powers, duties, and functions under under the ATIA.   

Performance under Part 1 of the Access to Information Act, 2025-2026

During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the Secretariat achieved a key institutional performance measure by responding to the five requests for access to information received within the legislated timelines. This demonstrates the Secretariat’s strong commitment to efficiency, accountability, and adherence to statutory requirements.

The five requests were addressed as follows:

All five requests were responded to within 15 days. The Secretariat does not currently have any active requests.

The Secretariat also received two consultation requests from other government organizations during this period. Both requests were completed within 15 days.

Training and awareness

All Secretariat employees are aware that the Secretariat is subject to the ATIA and are aware of their obligations pursuant to section 16.6 of the ATIA. No training was provided during the reporting period.

Policies, guidelines and procedures

Pursuant to section 20 of the NSICOP Act, the Committee adopted comprehensive internal procedures for the exercise of its powers or the performance of its duties and functions. Those procedures refer to the obligations of the Secretariat in processing ATIA requests.

The Secretariat reports on its ATIA requests monthly through the Open Government Registry.

Initiatives and projects to improve access to information

The Secretariat did not implement any initiatives or projects to improve access to information during this period.

Summary of key issues and actions taken on complaints

The Secretariat received one complaint which remained in treatment at the end of the reporting period.

Proactive publication under Part 2 of the ATIA

Proactive publication requirements table

All Government institutions as defined in section 3 of the Access to Information Act

Legislative requirement Section Publication timeline Institutional requirement
Travel Expenses 82 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement X
Hospitality Expenses 83 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement X
Reports tabled in Parliament 84 Within 30 days after tabling X

Government entities or Departments, agencies, and other bodies subject to the Act and listed in Schedules I, I.1, or II of the Financial Administration Act

Legislative requirement Section Publication timeline Institutional requirement
Contracts over $10,000 86 Q1-Q4: Within 30 days after the quarter X
Grants & Contributions over $25,000 87 Within 30 days after the quarter X
Packages of briefing materials prepared for new or incoming deputy heads or equivalent 88(a) Within 120 days after appointment X
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 X
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 X

Government institutions that are departments named in Schedule I to the Financial Administration Act or portions of the core public administration named in Schedule IV to that Act (i.e. government institutions for which Treasury Board is the employer)

Legislative requirement Section Publication timeline Institutional requirement
Reclassification of positions 85 Within 30 days after the quarter X

Ministers

Legislative requirement Section Publication timeline Institutional requirement
Packages of briefing materials prepared by a government institution for new or incoming ministers 74(a) Within 120 days after appointment X
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 X
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 X
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 X
Travel expenses 75 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement  
Hospitality expenses 76 Within 30 days after the end of the month of reimbursement  
Contracts over $10,000 77 Q1-Q3: Within 30 days after the quarter
Q4: Within 60 days after the quarter
 
Ministers’ Offices Expenses
*Note: This consolidated report is currently published by TBS on behalf of all institutions.
78 Within 120 days after the fiscal year  

Monitoring compliance

There is no requirement for specific monitoring of ATIA requests. The Executive Director is made aware of all requests and their progress and treatment are closely monitored. 

Statistical report on the Access to Information Act

Name of institution: National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

Reporting period: 2025-04-01 to 2026-03-31

Section 1 - Requests under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Number of requests

  Number of requests
Received during reporting period 5
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
Outstanding from previous reporting period 0
Outstanding from more than one reporting period 0
Total 5
Closed during reporting period 5
Carried over to next reporting period 0
Carried over within legislated timelines 0
Carried over beyond legislated timelines 0

1.2 Sources of requests

Source Number of requests
Media 1
Academia 2
Business (Private sector) 0
Organization 0
Public 2
Decline to identify 0
Total 5

1.3 Channel of requests

Source Number of requests
Online 0
Email 5
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total 5

Section 2 - Informal requests

2.1 Number of informal requests

  Number of requests
Received during reporting period 4
Outstanding from previous reporting periods 0
Outstanding from previous reporting period 0
Outstanding from more than one reporting period 0
Total 4
Closed during reporting period 4
Carried over to next reporting period 0

2.2 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
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

2.3 Pages released and re-released informally

Less than 500 pages released and re-released 500-10000 pages released and re-released More than 10000 pages released and re-released
Number of requests Number of pages Number of requests Number of pages Number of requests Number of pages
4 110 0 0 0 0

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

  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 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Disclosed in part 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
All exempted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
No records exist 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Request transferred 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neither confirmed or denied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

4.2 Exemptions

Section Number of requests
13(1)(a) 0
13(1)(b) 0
13(1)(c) 0
13(1)(d) 0
13(1)(e) 0
14 0
14(a) 0
14(b) 0
15(1) 0
15(1) - I.A. 0
15(1) - Def. 0
15(1) - S.A. 0
16(1)(a)(i) 0
16(1)(a)(ii) 0
16(1)(a)(iii) 0
16(1)(b) 0
16(1)(c) 0
16(1)(d) 0
16(2) 0
16(2)(a) 0
16(2)(b) 0
16(2)(c) 0
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) 0
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) 0
20(1)(a) 0
20(1)(b) 0
20(1)(b.1) 0
20(1)(c) 0
20(1)(d) 0
20.1 0
20.2 0
20.4 0
21(1)(a) 2
21(1)(b) 0
21(1)(c) 0
21(1)(d) 0
22 0
22.1(1) 0
23 0
23.1 0
24(1) 0
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) 0
69(1)(g) re (b) 0
69(1)(g) re (c) 0
69(1)(g) re (d) 0
69(1)(g) re (e) 0
69(1)(g) re (f) 0
69.1(1) 0

4.4 Format of information released

Paper Electronic record Data set Video Audio Other
0 5 0 0 0 0

4.5 Complexity

4.5.1 Relevant pages processed and disclosed for paper, e-record and dataset formats
Number of pages processed Number of pages disclosed Number of requests
110 110 3
4.5.2 Relevant pages processed per request disposition for paper, e-record and dataset formats by size of requests

Disposition
Less than 500 pages processed 500-10000 pages processed More than 10000 pages processed
Number of requests Pages processed Number of requests Pages processed Number of requests Pages processed
All disclosed 1 103 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 2 7 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
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 110 0 0 0 0
4.5.3 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for audio and video 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 and video formats by size of requests
Disposition Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0
All exempted 0 0
All excluded 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0
Neither confirmed nor denied 0 0
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0
Total 0 0
4.5.7 Other complexities
Disposition Consultation required Legal advice sought Other Total
All disclosed 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 2 0 2
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
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0
Total 0 2 0 2

4.6 Closed requests

4.6.1 Requests closed within legislated timelines
Number of requests closed within legislated timelines 5
Percentage of requests closed within legislated timelines (%) 100

4.7 Deemed refusals

4.7.1 Reasons for not meeting legislated deadline
Number of requests closed past the legislated deadline Principal reason
Interference with operations / Workload External consultation Internal consultation Other
0 0 0 0 0
4.7.2 Requests closed beyond legislated timelines (including any extension taken)
Number of days past legislated timelines Number of requests past legislated timelines where no extension was taken Number of requests past legislated timelines where an extension was taken Total
1 to 15 days 0 0 0
16 to 30 days 0 0 0
31 to 60 days 0 0 0
61 to 120 days 0 0 0
121 to 180 days 0 0 0
181 to 365 days 0 0 0
More than 365 days 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)(c)
Third party notice
Section 69 Other
All disclosed 0 0 0 0
Disclosed in part 0 0 0 0
All exempted 0 0 0 0
All excluded 0 0 0 0
Request abandoned 0 0 0 0
No records exist 0 0 0 0
Decline to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

5.2 Length of extensions

Length of extensions 9(1)(a)
Interference with operations / workload
9(1)(b)
Consultation
9(1)(c)
Third party notice
Section 69 Other
30 days or less 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 days 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 days 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 days 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 days 0 0 0 0
365 days or more 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

Section 6 - Fees

Fee type Fee collected Fee waived Fee refunded
Number of requests Amount Number of requests Amount Number of requests Amount
Application 0 $0 0 $0.00 0 $0
Other fees 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Total 0 $0 0 $0.00 0 $0

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 reporting period 2 68 0 0
Outstanding from the previous reporting period 0 0 0 0
Total 2 68 0 0
Closed during the reporting period 2 68 0 0
Carried over within negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0
Carried over beyond negotiated timelines 0 0 0 0

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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Disclose in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exempt entirely 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Exclude entirely 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consult other institution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disclose in part 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Section 8 - Completion time of consultations on Cabinet confidences

8.1 Requests with Legal Services

Number of days Fewer than 500 pages processed 500-10000 pages processed More than 10000 pages processed
Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed Number of requests Pages disclosed
1 to 15 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 to 30 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 to 60 0 0 0 0 0 0
61 to 120 0 0 0 0 0 0
121 to 180 0 0 0 0 0 0
181 to 365 0 0 0 0 0 0
More than 365 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

8.2 Requests with Privy Council Office

Number of days Less 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
Sebsection 30(5)
Ceased to investigate
Section 35
Formal representations
1 0 0

9.2 Investigations and reports of findings

Section 37(1) Initial reports Section 37(2) Final reports
Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing an intent to issue an order by the Information Commissioner Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner
0 0 0 0 0 0

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 $927
Overtime $0
Goods and services $0
• Professional services contracts $0  
• Other $0  
Total $927

11.2 Human resources

Resources Person years dedicated to Access to Information activities
Full-time employees 0.008
Part-time and casual employees 0.000
Regional staff 0.000
Consultants and agency personnel 0.000
Students 0.000
Total 0.008

Supplemental statistical report on the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act

Name of institution: National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians

Reporting period: 2025-04-01 to 2026-03-31

Section 1: Requests carried over and active complaints under Access to Information Act

1.1 Requests carried over to next reporting period, broken down by reporting period received

Reporting period requests carried over were received Requests carried over that are within legislated timelines as of March 31, 2026 Requests carried over that are beyond legislated timelines as of March 31, 2026 Total
Received in 2025–2026 0 0 0
Received in 2024–2025 0 0 0
Received in 2023–2024 0 0 0
Received in 2022–2023 0 0 0
Received in 2021–2022 0 0 0
Received in 2020–2021 0 0 0
Received in 2019–2020 0 0 0
Received in 2018–2019 0 0 0
Received in 2017–2018 0 0 0
Received in 2016–2017 or earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

1.2 Active complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada, broken down by reporting period received

Reporting period active complaints were received by institution Number of active complaints
Received in 2025–2026 1
Received in 2024–2025 0
Received in 2023–2024 0
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 or earlier 0
Total 1

Section 2: Requests carried over and active complaints under the Privacy Act

2.1 Requests carried over to next reporting period, broken down by reporting period received

Reporting period requests carried over were received Requests carried over that are within legislated timelines as of March 31, 2026 Requests carried over that are beyond legislated timelines as of March 31, 2026 Total
Received in 2025–2026 0 0 0
Received in 2024–2025 0 0 0
Received in 2023–2024 0 0 0
Received in 2022–2023 0 0 0
Received in 2021–2022 0 0 0
Received in 2020–2021 0 0 0
Received in 2019–2020 0 0 0
Received in 2018–2019 0 0 0
Received in 2017–2018 0 0 0
Received in 2016–2017 or earlier 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0

2.2 Active complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, broken down by reporting period received

Reporting period active complaints were received by institution Number of active complaints
Received in 2025–2026 0
Received in 2024–2025 0
Received in 2023–2024 0
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 or earlier 0
Total 0

Section 3: Universal access under the Privacy Act

How many requests were received from foreign nationals outside of Canada in 2025-26? 0

Page details

2026-09-23