ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada

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SECTION I: OVERVIEW

Message from the Information Commissioner of Canada

On September 30, 2006, the Honourable John M. Reid’s term as Information Commissioner of Canada ended. After approval by the House of Commons and Senate, Robert Marleau was appointed as Information Commissioner of Canada effective January 15, 2007. Thus, this report is one of the first official acts of the commissioner but represents a new commissioner’s informed understanding of his office’s statutory mandate, activities and challenges.

By law the commissioner is committed to delivering thorough, fair and timely investigations of complaints made against government under the Access to Information Act (the Act). As well, he is committed to providing complainants, government institutions and Parliament with full reports of the result of investigations and responsible recommendations concerning remedial actions to solve individual complaints and system-wide challenges. Finally, the commissioner is committed to providing professional legal representation before the courts in cases where he considers that refusals by government institutions to disclose requested records are not justified by the Act.

These activities, along with the corporate services necessary to support them, constitute the business lines of the Office of the Information Commissioner.

The office, in addition to its legally mandated business lines, faces a number of challenges which constitute elements of its plans and priorities. They include:

1. Assisting the government and Parliament in considering proposals for reform of the Act as announced in the government’s action plan on access reform.

2. Establishing and administering, for the first time within the office, a capacity to respond to requests made under the Act and the Privacy Act and, generally, to comply with the administrative provisions of those statutes.

3. Proceeding with the office’s plan to reduce its backlog of investigations and ensure that appropriate service standards are met with respect to an expected increase in complaints resulting from passage of the Federal Accountability Act.

4. Establishing, for the first time, an internal audit capacity within the office and, in concert with other officers of Parliament, ensuring that mechanisms of accountability are in place which are effective but do not compromise the commissioner’s independence from government.

It is an honour and privilege for this new commissioner to take on this mandate and to strive, by discharging it with diligence, integrity, professionalism and fairness, to facilitate our democracy.

                                                                                         
Robert Marleau
Information Commissioner of Canada

Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the preparation of Part III of the 2007-2008 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities:

• It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;

• It is based on the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada’s Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;

• It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;

• It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and

• It reports finances based on approved planned spending numbers from the Treasury Board Secretariat.

                                                                                         
J. Alan Leadbeater
Deputy Information Commissioner of Canada

Summary Information

The Access to Information Act, adopted by the Parliament of Canada in 1983, provides for the right of Canadian citizens, whether or not they reside in Canada, along with all individuals present in Canada to request and gain access to any record under the control of a federal institution subject to limited and specific exceptions. The Office of the Information Commissioner is established to receive and investigate complaints from persons who believe that government institutions have not respected the rights given to them by the Act.

Financial Resources ($ thousands)
2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
9 248	8 930	8 185

Human Resources
2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
90	90	82

Program Activities by Strategic Outcome	Planned Spending
	2007-2008	2008-2009		2009-2010
Strategic Outcome: Individuals’ rights under the Access to Information Act are safeguarded
Program Activity:
Assess, investigate, review, pursue judicial enforcement, and provide advice.	9 248		8 930	8 185

Priorities

As described in the overview message, the Access to Information Act sets out three ongoing priorities that the office must address to fulfil this strategic outcome.

In addition to undertaking these priority activities, the Office of the Information Commissioner will strive to reduce the number of access to information complaints. The office will work to achieve this objective in three ways: by engaging in reviews and or systemic investigations of government departments; by encouraging departmental personnel that deal with access to information requests to upgrade their skills and knowledge; and by educating managers in federal government institutions on their responsibilities and obligations under the Access to Information Act.

As well, the Office of the Information Commissioner will assist the government and Parliament in assessing the implications of draft legislation on the right of access and in assessing proposals for reform of the Act.

 

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