Annual Report to Parliament — Access to Information Act

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Table of Contents

Introduction

The Access to Information Act gives Canadian citizens as well as people and corporations present in Canada the right to have access to federal government records that are not of a personal nature. The Act complements but does not replace other procedures for obtaining government information. It is not intended to limit in any way the access to government information that is normally available to the public upon request.

About the Organization

The Economic Action Plan introduced in Budget 2009 provided $1 billion over five years for a new Southern Ontario development agency to support restructuring, community and business development, innovation and commercialization initiatives, and other measures to promote economic diversification in Southern Ontario. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was formally established on August 13, 2009.

The Agency is charged with delivering federal government economic development programs tailored to the specific priorities of workers, businesses and communities in Southern Ontario. The mandate of FedDev Ontario is to help support excellence by making the Southern Ontario economy and its communities more competitive, innovative and diversified.

FedDev Ontario is headquartered in Kitchener and has offices in Stratford, Peterborough, Toronto and Ottawa. According to the 2006 Census, this area has a population of over 11 million, representing approximately 93% of Ontario's total population and 36% of the total population of Canada.

FedDev Ontario is part of the Industry portfolio. Its President oversees the Agency operations and resources, and reports to the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario).

Structure of the Access to Information and Privacy Office

Responsibility for processing requests received under the Act rests with the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Coordinator who reports to the Corporate Secretary of the Agency. The ATIP Office is located in Ottawa. The ATIP Coordinator oversees the implementation of the Act within FedDev Ontario, and ensures compliance with the legislation. One junior officer is also part of the ATIP Office. You will find in Annex A the organizational chart of the ATIP Office.

Delegation of Authority

For the period August 13, 2009 to March 31, 2010, the signing authority for the administration of the Access to Information Act remained with the President of FedDev Ontario. A delegation order is being prepared for the next reporting period.

Statistics

FedDev Ontario is a new organization and only two requests were received from August 13, 2009 to March 31, 2010. A summarized statistical report on Access to Information Act requests is attached as Annex B.

Of the two requests processed during this reporting period, one was completed and one was carried forward to the next reporting period.

As noted in Annex B, exemptions under sections 19 and 20 of the Access to Information Act were invoked by FedDev Ontario. No exclusions were invoked by the Agency.

The response time for completing the request was 120 days. The extension was taken to complete external consultation with third parties.

Operational Costs to Administer the Act

Total salary costs associated with the Access to Information Act activities are estimated at $25,884 for this period. Non-salary costs are estimated at $6,000. The associated employee resources for this period are fixed at 30% of one full‑time equivalent (FTE) for administering the Act.

It should be noted that prior to having an Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator appointed for the Agency, Industry Canada's Information and Privacy Rights Administration were managing FedDev Ontario's Access to Information Request and the associated costs related to these activities are included in their statistics.

Institutional Policies and Procedures

As this was the first year of operation for FedDev Ontario, the Agency is using the policies and procedures put in place by Industry Canada and follows Treasury Board guidelines. Specific tools will be developed and implemented during the next reporting period.

Education and Training

The ATIP Coordinator has provided informal training / briefings sessions to Agency staff in order to coach them in performing activities related to the requests received during the reporting period. This training also addressed specific questions from employees and management with the Agency. The ATIP coordinator has initiated the development of training tools which will be implemented in the next reporting period.

Complaints and Investigations

There were no complaints received concerning the administration of the Access to Information Act, and no difficulties have been encountered in the administration of the Access to Information Act during the reporting period.

Annex A — Structure of Access to Information and Privacy Office

Graphic of Access to Information and Privacy Office's Organizational chart. Text version provided below.
  • Corporate Secretary, Marian Tomlinson, AS 07
    • Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator, Josée Riopel, PM 05
      • Access to Information and Privacy Officer, Vacant, PM 03

Annex B — Statistical Report

Institution:
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Reporting period:
April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010
Source:
Media:
1
 
Academia:
0
 
Business:
0
 
Organization:
0
 
Public:
1

I. Requests under the Access to Information Act

Received during reporting period
2
Outstanding from previous period
0
Total
2
Completed during reporting period
1
Carried forward
1

II. Dispositon of requests completed

1.
All disclosed
0
2.
Disclosed in part
1
3.
Nothing disclosed (excluded)
0
4.
Nothing disclosed (exempt)
0
5.
Transferred
0
6.
Unable to process
0
7.
Abandoned by applicant
0
8.
Treated informally
0
 
Total
1

III. Exemptions invoked

S.
Art. 13(1)(a)
0
b)
0
c)
0
d)
0
S.
Art. 14
0
S.
15(1) International rel.
0
Defence
0
Subversive activities
0
S.
Art 16(1)(a)
0
b)
0
c)
0
d)
0
S.
Art. 16(2)
0
S.
Art. 16(3)
0
S.
Art. 17
0
S.
Art. 18(a)
0
S.
Art. 18(b)
0
c)
0
d)
0
S.
Art. 19(1)
1
S.
Art. 20(1)(a)
0
b)
1
c)
1
d)
0
S.
Art. 21(1)(a)
0
b)
0
c)
0
d)
0
S.
Art. 22
0
S.
Art. 23
0
S.
Art. 24
0
S.
Art. 26
0

IV. Exclusions cited

S.
Art. 68(a)
0
b)
0
c)
0
S.
Art. 69(1)(a)
0
b)
0
S.
Art. 69(1)(c)
0
d)
0
e)
0
f)
0
g)
0

V. Completion time

30 days or under
0
31 to 60 days
0
61 to 120 days
1
121 days or over
0

VI. Extensions

 
30 days or under
31 days or over
Searching
0
0
Consultation
0
1
Third party
0
0
Total
0
1

VII. Translations

Translations requested
0
Translations prepared
English to French
0
Translations prepared
French to English
0

VIII. Method of access

Copies given
1
Examination
0
Copies and examination
0

XI. Fees

Net fees collected
Application fees
$ 10.00
Reproduction
0
Searching
0
Preparation
0
Computer processing
0
Total
$ 10.00
Fees waived
No. of times
$
$25.00 or under
0
$ 0
Over $25.00
1
$ 35.40

X. Costs

Financial (all reasons)
Salary
$ 25,884.00
Administration (O and M)
$ 6,000.00
Total
$ 31,884.00
Person year utilization (all reasons)
Person year (decimal format)
0.33

Appendix B —Supplemental Reporting Requirements Access to Information Act

In addition to the reporting requirements addressed in form TBS/SCT 350-62 "Report on the Access to Information Act", institutions are required to report on the following using this form:

Part III – Exemptions invoked

Section 13
 
Subsection 13(e):
0
Section 14
 
Subsections 14(a):
0
14(b):
0

Part IV – Exclusions cited

Subsection 69.1 (1):
0

Appendix C – Discrepancies

No discrepancies to report

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
August 13, 2009 to March 31, 2010

 

This publication is available upon request in accessible formats.

Contact:
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
155 Queen Street, 14th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H5
Telephone: 613-954-2880
Fax: 613-952-9026
Email: Josee.Riopel@feddevontario.gc.ca

Permission to Reproduce
The information in this publication may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means,without charge or further permission from the Federal Economic Development Agency forSouthern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring theaccuracy of the information reproduced; that FedDev Ontario is identified as the source institution; and that the reproduction is not represented as an official version of theinformation reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsementof, FedDev Ontario.

For permission to reproduce the information in this publication for commercial redistribution,please email: copyright.droitdauteur@pwgsc.gc.ca

PDF Cat. No.:
Iu93-1/1-2010E-PDF
978-1-100-16326-0

Print Cat. No.:
Iu93-1/1-2010
978-1-100-51933-3

 

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