Canada's Access to information is dysfunctional to say the least (ie I still have two outstanding ATIPs way over the pretend 30 day rule: one with Finance at 475 days old, and one with Health at 486 days old, with no end in sight for either one).
I have now encountered a new indication of just how messed up the system is.
But first...a good thing about the system is that a person can request documents from ATIPs somebody else has already asked for: Completed Access to Information Requests. I have used this feature a number of times and usually within a couple of days I will receive the information requested.
However recently when I requested this document, nothing was forthcoming. When I inquired why this was the case this is what I was told:
Because your request is being processed informally, it is not subject to the statutory deadlines, complaint mechanisms, or other formal requirements set out in Part 1 of the Access to Information Act. However, we will make every effort to process it as promptly as possible.
Please note that the records responsive to your request are quite extensive, which may affect the time required to review and prepare them for release. We appreciate your patience as we work through the material, and we will provide the records to you as soon as we are able.
In response I asked this logical question:
Since the ATIP has already been completed, I don't understand why a further analysis of the info must be done? There were only 47 pages in the package. Can you please explain the delay?
Their response:
While the records have previously been released and the volume is not large, some time is still required to properly process an informal request. This includes confirming that all information remains appropriate for disclosure, verifying that any applicable exemptions or redactions remain appropriate, and ensuring the records are accurate and complete before being shared again.
The necessary internal and administrative steps must still be complete to ensure accuracy and consistency.
In addition, we are currently processing multiple informal and formal access to information requests, and we must balance and prioritize these requests accordingly to ensure all are handled fairly and appropriately.
So five weeks later and counting, it sounds like the bureaucrats are starting at the beginning of the request, all over again, why? Is it a stalling tactic? Did they make mistakes the first time? Whatever their reasoning, it is just stupid. It's like the government has come up with a new way to hinder access to information requests. Which I guess shouldn't surprise me.
