What are the possible outcomes for my complaint?

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id="page-content"> <div class="row"> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="content-inner col-md-12 ">     <div class="region region-content">         <article data-history-node-id="1689" class="guidance full clearfix"> <h1 class="page-title">     <span>What are the possible outcomes for my complaint?</span>  </h1> <div class="content">          <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div class="wb-eqht"><div class="col-md-12 hght-inhrt panel"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="panel"><h3 class="mrgn-tp-0">Well founded</h3><p>Based on the findings of the investigation, the Information Commissioner concludes that one or more of the allegations in your complaint have merit.</p><p>Examples</p><ul><li>The Commissioner concludes that the extension of time you complained about did not meet the requirements of paragraph 9(1)(a).</li><li>The Commissioner concludes that information withheld under section 19 was not personal information and that, therefore, the institution should have disclosed it.</li></ul><p>Once the investigation is complete, we will send you, the institution and any other parties to the complaint a final report with the Commissioner’s finding.</p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="panel"><h3 class="mrgn-tp-0">Not well founded</h3><p>Based on the findings of the investigation, the Information Commissioner concludes that none of the allegations in your complaint have merit.</p><p>Examples</p><ul><li>The Commissioner concludes that the institution conducted a reasonable search for the records you requested.</li><li>The Commissioner concludes that information the institution withheld under paragraph 20(1)(a) was a trade secret belonging to a third party and that, therefore, the institution was authorized to exempt it from disclosure.</li></ul><p>Once the investigation is complete, we will send you, the institution and any other parties to the complaint a final report with the Commissioner’s finding.</p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="panel"><h3 class="mrgn-tp-0">Discontinued</h3><p>You withdraw your complaint because you no longer want us to investigate your allegations.</p><p>Examples</p><ul><li>You no longer need the information you requested.</li><li>The circumstances that prompted your complaint have changed.</li></ul><p>We will send you, the institution and any other parties to the complaint a notice indicating that you have withdrawn your complaint.</p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="panel"><h3 class="mrgn-tp-0">Refused or ceased to investigate</h3><p><strong>In the Information Commissioner’s view, investigating your complaint is unnecessary.</strong></p><p>Examples</p><ul><li>The Information Commissioner already investigated your allegations.</li><li>You receive a response to your access request before the Commissioner determines the merits of your allegation that the institution did not respond within the time limits.</li><li>You receive the information you requested before the Commissioner determines the merits of your allegation that the institution was not authorized to exempt it from disclosure.</li></ul><p>When deciding whether to refuse or cease to investigate a complaint in these situations, the Commissioner may consider, among other factors, whether continuing to pursue the complaint would have any practical benefit, now that the institution has provided a response to the access request or disclosed information previously withheld—in particular, whether there is any meaningful action she could order the institution to take in light of the complaint.</p><p><strong>In the Information Commissioner’s view, your complaint is trivial, frivolous or vexatious, or was made in bad faith.</strong></p><p>We will notify you of the Commissioner’s decision to refuse or cease to investigate your complaint. We will also inform the institution when we already notified it that we intended to investigate your complaint (under section 32 of the Act). Other parties will be notified when the Act requires it.</p></div></div></div><p class="mrgn-bttm-lg"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/sites/default/files/2022-02/control_of_records.jpg" alt="Commissioner and Deputies" width="1550" height="584" loading="lazy"></p></div></div></div>  </div> </article>       <div id="block-datemodifiedblock-2" data-block-plugin-id="date_modified_block" class="block block-wxt-library block-date-modified-block clearfix"> <dl id="wb-dtmd"> <dt>Date modified:</dt> <dd><time property="dateModified">2024-11-22</time></dd></dl> </div>  </div>  </div> </div> </div> </main>     <div class="btn-group clearfix flyout-btns" role="group" aria-label="flyout buttons"> <a role="button" data-block="#block-submitacomplaint2023_2" data-target="#flyout-region" data-toggle="modal" class="btn solid plum">Submit a complaint</a> </div> <div class="modal fade" role="dialog" id="flyout-region"> <div class="modal-dialog modal-lg" role="document"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <a role="button" aria-label="close dialog" data-dismiss="modal" class="flyout-close btn solid white"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">close</span></a> </div>     <div id="block-submitacomplaint2023-2" data-block-plugin-id="block_content:954a2f1a-ff7d-44ad-a161-c0a092b7784c" class="modal-body"> <h2 class="modal-title">Submit a complaint</h2> <div class="panel plum textured">     <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h2 class="mrgn-tp-0" id="deposer-une-plainte-submit-a-complaint">Submit a complaint</h2>  <p>The <em>Access to Information Act</em> gives a right to access information under the control of government institutions. The Act also provides a right to complain to the Information Commissioner about matters related to an access request made under the Act, such as the following:</p> <ul> <li>the institution’s response to the request</li> <li>the fact that the institution did not respond to the request</li> <li>how an institution treated the request.</li> </ul> <p>Individuals may also complain about other matters related to requesting and accessing records under Part 1 of the Act, even if they did not make an access request.</p> <p>In all instances, complainants may <a data-entity-substitution="file" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d23e7b52-bfe5-4cf7-a200-791dbb5263b3" href="/sites/default/files/2023-07/OIC_Authorization%20form_July_2023.pdf" target="_blank">authorize someone else</a> to submit a complaint(s) on their behalf.</p> <p><strong>More information: </strong><a href="https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/how-oic-can-help#types-of-complaints" target="_blank">Types of complaints</a>; <a href="https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/information-commissioners-guidance/how-oic-processes-and-investigates-complaints" target="_blank">How the OIC processes and investigates complaints</a></p> <div class="pull-right"><a class="btn solid green" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ecee20a3-58d0-43dc-99b6-0b06f3cc6760" href="/node/1995">Continue</a></div> </div>  </div> </div>  </div> </div> </div>  <footer class="wb-navcurr" id="wb-info" role="contentinfo">  <div class="pre-footer"> <svg id="footer-swoop" viewBox="0 0 3627 432.04" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMin slice"><defs><style nonce="2726c7f26csp">.cls-1{fill:#bbb;}.cls-2{fill:#f6f7f8;}</style></defs><path class="cls-1" d="M1413.27,94.12C728,156,583.24,414.59,141.07,414.59c-51.8,0-140.18-17-140.18-17l-.2-71.14V432H3627V293.85c-7.54,1.85-279.14,68.45-473.51,68.45C2372.59,362.3,1960.81,44.71,1413.27,94.12Z"/><path class="cls-2" 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What are the possible outcomes for my complaint?