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Document
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P-1354
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File #
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P_9600399
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Institution/HIC
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Ministry of the Environment and Energy
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Summary
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NATURE OF THE APPEAL: The Ministry of the Environment and Energy (the Ministry) received a requestunder the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act )for access to records relating to a specified property in the City ofScarborough. The requester is the purchaser of a home being built on landformerly used for industrial purposes. She is seeking any information held bythe Ministry which refers to the contamination of the land or the ground waterbeneath it. The Ministry located a number of responsive records and, with twoexceptions, granted access in full to the requester. With respect to the two remaining documents, the Ministry determined thatthe interests of a third party (the Corporation) could be affected by theirdisclosure. Accordingly, pursuant to section 28 of the Act , theMinistry sought the Corporation's views regarding the disclosure of the recordsto the requester. The Corporation objected to the disclosure of the records. The Ministry then decided to disclose them to the requester. The Corporation,now the appellant, appealed that decision on the basis that the records areexempt, pursuant to the mandatory exemption contained in section 17(1)(b) of the Act . A Notice of Inquiry was provided to the appellant, the Ministry and theoriginal requester. Representations were received from the Ministry only. Theappellant indicted that he wished to rely on the submissions which were made tothe Ministry in response to the section 28 notice and in his letter of appeal. The records in dispute consist of an environmental report dated February 13,1991 and a draft project status report dated April 11, 1994. DISCUSSION: THIRD PARTY INFORMATION Section 17(1)(b) states: A head shall refuse to disclose a record that reveals a trade secret orscientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information,supplied in confidence implicitly or explicitly, where the disclosure couldreasonably be expected to, result in similar information no longer being supplied to the institutionwhere it is in the public interest that similar information continue to be sosupplied; In this case, because the Ministry is prepared to disclose the reports andthe appellant objects, it is the appellant who must provide sufficient evidencethat all the requirements of the exemption have been met. The appellant mustprovide sufficient evidence to establish that the reports contain the requisitetype of information, were supplied to the Ministry in confidence and that theharm in section 17(1)(b) could reasonably be expected to occur upon disclosureof the records. Type of Information Both the Ministry and the appellant submit that the records containscientific and technical information. Based on the submissions of the Ministryand the appellant, as well as my review of the records, I find that they containscientific and/or technical information and thus meet the first of therequirements for exemption under this section. Supplied in Confidence To meet this aspect of the section 17(1) exemption, it must be demonstratedthat the information in question was supplied to the Ministry, and that it wassupplied in confidence, either explicitly or implicitly. Both the Ministry and the appellant agree that the records were provided tothe Ministry by the appellant, or the consultants engaged by the appellant, andI have no difficulty in so finding. The appellant submits that the 1991 reportwas marked "Privileged and Confidential - for the Purposes of Legal Advice"by the consulting firm who prepared it and that it was voluntarily provided bythe appellant directly to the Ministry "in confidence", in order toobtain the Ministry's advice and assistance. The Ministry concurs that the 1991report was submitted to it with an explicit expectation of confidentiality. Ihave reviewed this document and the submissions of the parties and agree thatthe second part of the section 17(1)(b) test has been met with respect to the1991 report. The 1994 report was sent by facsimile to the Ministry by the consultantsretained by the appellant, at the request of the appellant. The cover pagewhich accompanied the report was marked "privileged and confidential". The appellant and the Ministry submit that this indicates that this record wasprovided to the Ministry with an explicit expectation of confidentiality. Iagree, and find that part two of the section 17(1)(b) test has been satisfiedwith respect to this document as well. Harm In order to meet the requirements of section 17(1)(b) of the Act ,the appellant must demonstrate, that: 1.the disclosure of the information in the records could reasonably beexpected to result in similar information no longer being supplied to theMinistry; and 2.it is in the public interest that similar information continue to besupplied to the Ministry in this fashion. [Orders P-604 and P-1235] The appellant submits that landowners are not compelled to produceto the Ministry studies respecting environmental issues which they commission attheir own expense. They continue to do so, however, in order to assist theMinistry in its enforcement and regulatory obligations. The appellant arguesthat the "cooperation shown by the parties in its confidential dealingswith the Ministry should not in any way be eroded by any disclosure to thepublic". In addition, the appellant suggests that it is: in the public interest that parties be free to voluntarily supplyinformation to the Ministry in confidence in order to obtain the Ministry'scooperation in the assessment and implementation of any actions which may bevolunteered, recommended or required. Finally, the appellant submits that disclosure of these records will impedethe Ministry's ability to carry out its mandate should parties refuse tocooperate in the supply of information. The Ministry states that while it prefers to receive reports such as the oneat issue voluntarily, pursuant to section 18 of the Environmental ProtectionAct (the EPA ), the Director can issue an order to require productionof "such a report" and that "... In such situations, the Ministrywill order sufficient information to be able to undertake their mandate". I accept the appellant's submissions that it is in the public interest thatas much relevant information as possible continue to be supplied to the Ministryin situations such as the one which resulted in the creation of the records. However, given that the Ministry has the statutory authority to compel theCorporation to provide it with sufficient information to satisfy its obligationsunder the EPA , I am of the view that the disclosure of the reportscould not reasonably be expected
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Legislation
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Subject Index
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Signed by
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Donald Hale
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Published
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Feb 28, 1997
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Type
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Order
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Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. All Rights Reserved.
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