ORDER P-464
Appeal P-9200100
Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services
ORDER
The Ministry of the Solicitor General (now 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 access to all records relating to "a product known as `Skratch'".
The Ministry responded by giving the requester access to some records, and denying access to others pursuant to sections 19 and 21 of the Act. The requester appealed the Ministry's decision.
During mediation, the appellant indicated he was not pursuing access to the section 21 severances, but did believe that more records existed which were responsive to the request. The Ministry dropped its reliance on section 19 and released the remainder of the records to the appellant. The Ministry also indicated that it had conducted further searches for additional responsive records and confirmed that the only record that was located was one to which the appellant had already been granted access.
Further mediation was not successful and notice that an inquiry was being conducted to review the Ministry's decision was sent to the Ministry and the appellant. Written representations were received from both parties.
The sole issue in this appeal is whether the Ministry's search for the requested records was reasonable in the circumstances.
In his representations, the appellant states it is his belief that more records exist than those released by the Ministry.
In its representations, the Ministry outlines the steps taken to locate any responsive records. In particular, a detailed description of four separate searches which were performed is outlined.
Having reviewed the representations of the parties, I am satisfied that the Ministry has taken all reasonable steps to locate any responsive records, and I find that the search conducted by the Ministry was reasonable in the circumstances of this appeal.
Original signed by: May 28, 1993
Asfaw Seife
Inquiry Officer