Annual Report to Parliament 2020-21: Access to Information Act

Introduction

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) was proclaimed into force on July 1, 1983.

The ATIA gives Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any person and corporation present in Canada a right of access to information contained within government records, subject to specific and limited exceptions. The ATIA complements but does not replace existing procedures for obtaining government information. It is not intended to limit in any way the access to government information that is normally available to the public upon request.

Section 94 of the ATIA requires that the head of every government institution prepare for submission to Parliament an annual report on the administration of the ATIA within the institution during each fiscal year.

This thirty-eighth Annual Report on the Administration of the ATIA is prepared in accordance with section 94 of the Act. It is intended to describe how the Department of Justice (hereinafter referred to as “the Department”) administered its responsibilities during the 2020-21 fiscal year.