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Access to Information Act

Annual Report to Parliament
April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005

PDF Version (0.5 M)

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • 2004-2005 Highlights
• Background on the Department
• Access to Information and Privacy Unit
  • Access to Information Training and Awareness
• 2004-2005 Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act
• Interpretation of the Statistical Report
  • Requests Received Under the Access to Information Act
  • Trends of the Requests Received
  • Disposition of Requests Completed
  • Exemptions Invoked
  • Exclusions Cited
  • Extensions of Time Limited
  • Completion Time
  • Method of Access
  • Fees Collected and Waived
  • Costs and Organizational Changes
  • Complaints Received
  • Judicial Review

Introduction

The Access to Information Act took effect on July 1, 1983, to give Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any person and corporation present in Canada a right of access to information contained in government records, subject to certain specific and limited exceptions.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) was established in 1987 to help lessen the West's economic dependence on natural resources. Under the Western Diversification Act, 1988, the Department is mandated to "promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation."

Section 72 to the Access to Information Act(ATIA) requires the head of every government institution submit an annual report to Parliament on the administration of the Act. This report details how WD administered its responsibilities under the Act during the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

2004-2005 Highlights

The ATIP and Corporate Administration units were combined within the Department in December 2004. This merger provides WD with greater operational flexibility and additional human resources to process Access to Information requests.

Notably, the number of requests received by the Department is the 2004-2005 fiscal year was less than half those received in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, down from 73 to only 32. This reduction in ATIP requests was a general trend across government that has been attributed to a minority government.

Copies of this report may be obtained from:

Western Economic Diversification Canada
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Suite 1500, Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4H7

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