P-568

The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services (the Ministry) received a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act) for information on the deaths of eight girls, who died between 1965 and 1976 while purportedly registered at the Grandview Training School for Girls (Grandview). The requester specifically sought access to the Coroner's reports prepared in relation to each of these deaths. In the alternative, he indicated that he would accept information respecting the name of each deceased, the age of the individual at death, the cause of death and the home town of the individual.

In its decision letter, the Ministry granted access to a briefing note prepared on the subject. The Ministry then identified eight Coroner's reports as the records which were responsive to the particulars of the request. The Ministry chose, however, to withhold these records from disclosure in their entirety pursuant to sections 14(1)(a), 21(1)(f), 21(2)(f) and (g), and 21(3)(a) and (b) of the Act. The requester appealed the Ministry's decision.

Further mediation was not successful and notice that an inquiry was being conducted to review the Ministry's decision was sent to the appellant and the Ministry. Representations were received from both parties.

In his representations, the appellant submitted that the public has a right to receive information pertaining to the deaths of the former Crown wards. On this basis, the appellant has implicitly raised the application of section 23 of the Act (the so-called public interest override).

• FIPPA
• 2(2)
• 21(1)(f)
• 21(3)(a)
• Section 23

• autopsy/coroner's
• Public Interest Override