The Information and Privacy Commissioner received complaints that the respondent disclosed private information in contravention of the Personal Information Protection Act.
The Commissioner took 22 months to extend the 90-day statutory time limit for completing the inquiry.
An adjudicator subsequently found the respondent had contravened the Act.
On judicial review, the respondent argued for the first time that the Commissioner lost jurisdiction by failing to extend the time limit within the initial 90 days.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the adjudicator implicitly decided the timelines issue, and this decision was reviewable on a standard of reasonableness because the tribunal was interpreting its home statute.
The Court found the adjudicator's implied decision to be reasonable and restored the order.
