Annual Report to Parliament on the Access to Information Act April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014

Table of Contents

Introduction 
Our Mandate 
Our Mission 
Access to Information Activities 
Appendix A - Statistical Report 
Appendix B – Additional Reporting 
Appendix C - Delegation Order 

INTRODUCTION

The Office of the Correctional Investigator is pleased to submit to Parliament its Annual Report on the administration of the Access to Information Act ( ATIA ) for the fiscal year commencing on April 1, 2013 and ending March 31, 2014. This report is submitted in accordance with section 72 of the Act .

The Access to Information Act took effect on July 1, 1983.The ATIA gives Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any person and corporation present in Canada a right of access to information contained in government records, subject to certain specific and limited exceptions.

OUR MANDATE

The Office of the Correctional Investigator is mandated by Part III of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act as an Ombudsman for federal offenders. The primary function of the Office is to investigate and bring resolution to individual offender complaints. The Office as well, has a responsibility to review and make recommendations on the Correctional Service's policies and procedures associated with the areas of individual complaints to ensure that systemic areas of concern are identified and appropriately addressed.

OUR MISSION

As the ombudsman for federally sentenced offenders, the Office of the Correctional Investigator serves Canadians and contributes to safe, lawful and humane corrections through independent oversight of the Correctional Service of Canada by providing accessible, impartial and timely investigation of individual and systemic concerns. While an independent organization, the Office of the Correctional Investigator is part of the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Portfolio.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is the designated head of the institution for the Access to Information Act . The Correctional Investigator has been delegated full authority under the Access to Information Act by the Minister. Limited authority under the Act has been delegated to the Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator. The delegation of authority to administer the Act was confirmed by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on January 21, 2014 ( see Appendix C ).

While the responsibilities of ATIP Coordinator are assigned to the Director of Corporate Services and Planning, the actual processing of requests and any associated activities are generally carried out by a consultant. It is felt that this is the most cost effective utilization of resources and delivery of these activities.

The ATIP Coordinator is accountable for the development, coordination and implementation of effective policies, guidelines, systems and procedures to ensure the responsibilities under the Access to Information Act are met and to enable appropriate processing and proper disclosure of information. The Coordinator is also responsible for related policies, systems and procedures emanating from the Act .

The main activities of the ATIP Coordinator include:

• Processing requests under the Act ;
• Developing and maintaining policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure the Act is respected;
• Promoting awareness of the Act to ensure the OCI ’s responsiveness to the obligations imposed on the government;
• Monitoring the OCI ’s compliance with the Act , regulations and relevant procedures and policies;
• Preparing annual reports to Parliament and other statutory reports, as well as other material that may be required by central agencies;
• Representing the OCI in dealings with the Treasury Board Secretariat ( TBS ), the Information Commissioner and other government agencies regarding the application of the Act as they relate to the OCI ; and
• Supporting the OCI in meeting its commitments in relation to greater openness and transparency through proactive disclosure of information and the disclosure of information through informal avenues.

During the reporting period sixteen requests were received and there were five outstanding requests from the previous period. There were no significant issues surrounding the sixteen requests received. Nine of the requests were disclosed in part, seven were disclosed entirely, two were abandoned, one request was exempted in its entirety, one request was transferred and one was carried forward to the next period. All but one request was processed within the legislated time frame. Extensions were taken for eight of the requests.

The OCI did not receive any complaints.

No formal monitoring of the time required to process requests was completed during the reporting period. However, ongoing discussions with the consultant on this matter took place.

There was no access to information-related training provided during the reporting period. However, continuous advice and recommendations were provided by the consultant on an as required basis to Management and staff.

During the reporting period, there were no new OCI -specific access related procedures, policies or guidelines implemented.

For 2013-2014, the costs directly associated with the administration of the Access to Information Act are estimated at $28,030.

Staff - $6,092.00 
Consultant fees - $21,938.00

The associated employee resources for 2013-2014 are estimated at 0.25 FTE for administering the Access to Information Act .

APPENDIX A - Statistical Report

Name of institution: Office of the Correctional Investigator

Reporting period: 2013-04-01 to 2014-03-31

PART 1 - Requests under the Access to Information Act 

PART 2 - Requests closed during the reporting period

2.5 Complexity

2.6 Deemed refusals

PART 3 - Extensions

PART 4 - Fees

PART 5 - Consultations received from other institutions and organizations

Part 6 - Completion time of consultations on Cabinet confidences

Part 7 - Resources related to the Access to Information Act 

Part 6 - Completion time of consultations on Cabinet confidences

Part 7 - Resources related to the Access to Information Act 

Appendix B - Additional Reporting

Appendix C - Delegation Order

Access to Information Act Delegation Order

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, pursuant to section 73 of the Access to Information Act , hereby designates the persons holding the positions set out in the schedule hereto to exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Minister as head of a government institution, that is, the Office of the Correctional Investigator, under the sections of the Act set out in the schedule opposite each position.

Schedule

Position 

Correctional Investigator 
Executive Director and General Counsel 
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator

Sections of the Access to Information Act 

7, 8(1), 9, 10, 11(2) to (6) incl., 12(2), 12(3), 13, 14, 15 to 24 incl., 25, 26, 27, 28(1), (2), (4), 29(1), 33, 35{2), 37(4), 43(1).44(2), 52(2), (3), 71, 72.

Section of the Regulations 

6(1), 7, 8.

Dated at the City of Ottawa this 21th day of January, 2014

Signed by: 
Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P. 
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Date modified 
2014-08-05