PO-2084

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (the Ministry) received a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act) for the following:

1. All reports, briefing papers, discussion papers and evaluations, of the proposal to create the Canadian Ecology Centre [the CEC] from initial concept discussions to the announcement of its launch in Feb. 1998.
   
   
2. All approvals and authorizations for Northern Ontario Heritage Fund grants totaling $3 million to date, including all assessments and audit reports - including the CEC's most recent annual audit.
   
   
3. The CEC's most recent application to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, reported in the press, for an additional, approximate, $1 million in funding, together with all reports, briefing notes, briefing papers memos, letters, faxes and e-mails discussing, reacting to, or evaluating that application/request.
   
   
4. All reports from Jan. 1, 2000 to Feb. 9, 2001 evaluating the performance of the CEC and/or its prospects for the future.

The Ministry initially issued an interim decision advising the requester that all records responsive to part 3 and certain records responsive to parts 1, 2 and 4 of the request would be exempt under sections 13(1), 17(1)(a) and(c), and 21 of the Act. The decision also included a fee estimate for processing parts 1, 2 and 4 of the request, which the requester appealed. The fee appeal was settled in mediation, and the requester paid the required 50% deposit ($1,300).

• FIPPA