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Making an access-to-information request

Making an access-to-information request. A few pointers. Who makes requests under the federal Access to Information Act?. Requests received in 2012-13 from: Businesses 21,242 38.52 % Public 22,274 40.39 % Media 8,321 15.09 %

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Making an access-to-information request

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  1. Making an access-to-information request A few pointers

  2. Who makes requests under the federal Access to Information Act? Requests received in 2012-13 from: Businesses 21,242 38.52% Public 22,274 40.39% Media 8,321 15.09% Organization 2,415 4.38% Academia 893 1.62% Total 55,145 100%

  3. Who gets the most requests? Citizenship and Immigration Canada 25,010 Canada Border Services Agency 3,147 Canada Revenue Agency 3,137 Transport Canada 2,197 National Defence 2,044 Environment Canada 1,827 Health Canada 1,765 Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1,218 Foreign Affairs 1,148 Library and Archives Canada 900 Other institutions 12,752 Total requests 2012-13 55,145

  4. Getting started • Research your subject • What do you know? Tip of the iceberg • What don’t you know? Rest of the iceberg • Ask for information informally • Use freedom of information as a safety net, a tool to obtain material you can’t get any other way • Federal Access to Information request forms:http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-57_e.asp

  5. Seek out smaller agencies • The biggest federal departments are often swamped with requests • Avoid lengthy delays and extensions by making applications to small agencies • Check the InfoSource guide for ideas

  6. www.infosource.gc.ca

  7. Canadian Dairy CommissionCanadian Environmental Assessment AgencyCanadian Food Inspection AgencyCanadian Forces Grievance BoardCanadian Grain CommissionCanadian HeritageCanadian Human Rights CommissionCanadian Human Rights TribunalCanadian Institutes of Health ResearchCanadian International Development AgencyCanadian International Trade TribunalCanadian Museum of Civilization CorporationCanadian Museum of NatureCanadian Nuclear Safety CommissionCanadian Polar CommissionCanadian Race Relations FoundationCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications CommissionCanadian Security Intelligence ServiceCanadian Space Agency

  8. Canadian Polar Commission

  9. Pay careful attention to each access law • Fees, time limits and other requirements vary depending on the jurisdiction • Web links on the syllabus will help you get to know the laws governing various provinces, territories, municipalities and public bodies • Be warned: some jurisdictions levy large fees

  10. Wording requests Pay special attention to: • Time frame • Type of records The key is striking a balance between wording that is too narrow and too broad

  11. In general, asking for more than six months’ worth of records can be troublesome. And unless you have names, dates and places, requesting a specific letter or briefing note might be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

  12. Including but not limited to… For example: Privy Council Office Records from June.15, 2013, to the present concerning the most recent decision to prorogue Parliament, including but not limited to briefing notes. However, I am not interested in emails. I am also not interested in anything that is obviously a cabinet confidence.

  13. Important wording • Add the following to each request: As this request is in the public interest, I ask that all fees please be waived. Please contact me when any records are ready for release. Optional: Please do not process any records that appear to be cabinet confidences.

  14. Exercise Break into five groups Draft one timely, well-worded federal Access to Information request per group Email it to: david_mckie@cbc.caWe will go over each one as a class

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