B.C. information commissioner slams long waits for FOI requests
British Columbia’s information and privacy commissioner is warning the provincial government of the risks of increasing waits for freedom of information requests – and of flouting its own rules.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner published a review of the government’s performance in responding to freedom of information requests from April 2020 to March 2023, finding response times had never been longer in the 13 years the office has been tracking waits for applications.
The province is supposed to respond within 30 business days, 60 in exceptional circumstances, but the report found that not only is the typical wait now 80 days, in some cases the government is taking months to respond and not asking for authorization from the OIPC for an extension, as is required under law.
“Government knows it should be complying with its own laws, otherwise they're brought into disrepute and that's how institutions and their validity begin to lose trust and confidence – and I don't think any government, any public body wants to see that,” said commissioner Michael McEvoy in a one-on-one interview.
Since 2020, CTV News has observed a deterioration in responsiveness from the provincial government when making freedom of information requests, not receiving any within the 30-day window. While CTV has seen the trend extend to other public bodies, McEvoy’s analysis only looked at provincial bodies, including the ministries of health and children, which had the highest number of requests.
From information on COVID-19 outbreaks in hospitals that led to hundreds getting sick and dying, to oversight for children in foster care, to records of environmental assessments, many of the requests ministries direct through the formalized freedom of information application process don’t actually need that process – it’s intended to identify and redact personal or sensitive information, but can also be used to shield government from controversy or criticism.
“They could do themselves a whole lot of favours by being much more open,” said McEvoy. “We live in an age now of disinformation and conspiracy theories, and I think a lot of that gets fuelled by government's resistance to being more open – and I think they could serve society and citizens and themselves a whole lot by being more open, and being more timely about that openness.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978861.1722008569!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Sask. appeal court says anti-trans group cannot join constitutional dispute over pronoun law
Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal has denied a political group that opposes so-called “gender ideology” intervener status in a legal dispute over the province’s controversial pronoun law.
Justin Timberlake's attorney disputes he was intoxicated when arrested for DWI
A hearing in the case of Justin Timberlake being accused of driving while intoxicated was held Friday, where an attorney for the singer disputed his arrest in June.
Elon Musk's estranged daughter calls out his 'entirely fake' claims about her childhood
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk's estranged daughter, publicly refuted several recent anti-trans statements her Tesla CEO and X owner father has made about her.
What we know about 'malicious' attack on French train network ahead of Olympics opening
French transport was thrust into chaos Friday just hours ahead of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony after a series of co-ordinated 'malicious acts' upended high-speed train lines.Here's what happened and what we know so far.
Reported rate of child pornography increased 52% in 2023, total crime up 3%: Statistics Canada
Last year, reported child pornography cases increased by more than 50 per cent in Canada, in part due to more cases being sent to police by specialized internet child exploitation units, according to a Statistics Canada report.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.