|
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology (now the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) (the Ministry) received a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act) for access to all information pertaining to loans or grants provided by the Ministry to a named corporation from 1970 to the date of the request. In particular, the requester sought records pertaining to policy discussions and proposals submitted by this corporation to the Ministry respecting the establishment of a Technology Centre.
The Ministry located a number of records that were responsive to the request. The Ministry also determined that the release of these documents might affect the interests of the corporation and, pursuant to section 28(1) of the Act, notified this party that an access request had been received. The corporation was invited to make representations on whether the records in question should be released. The Ministry then considered the submissions made and decided to release some of the documents to the requester in their entirety. The Ministry, however, denied access, either in whole or in part, to 35 records pursuant to sections 13(1), 17(1)(a), (b) and (c), 19 and 21 of the Act. The requester appealed the denial of access.
During the mediation stage of the appeal, the Ministry identified 37 additional records that were responsive to the request. The Ministry then denied access to these documents under sections 12(1) and/or 17(1)(a), (b) or (c) of the Act.
Further mediation was not successful and notice that an inquiry was being conducted to review the Ministry's decision was sent to the Ministry, the appellant and to the corporation (the affected person). Representations were received from all parties.
...
|