Dec 24, 2020

Manitoba Ombudsman has released a FIPPA investigation report where recommendations were made to Manitoba Executive Council (MEC). A report on compliance with the recommendations is also included. FIPPA requires that the ombudsman make recommendations made available to the public, and sets out that the ombudsman may do so by publishing recommendations on a website.

In this case, an individual made a FIPPA request to Manitoba Executive Council (MEC). Three months later, MEC issued a fee estimate, which the individual paid. Additional time passed and because MEC had still not made an access decision, the individual made a complaint to our office about MEC’s lack of response.

Our office found that MEC did not comply with the time limit for responding to the access request and it did not uphold its duty to assist the applicant. The ombudsman recommended that MEC make an access decision by November 30, 2020, and provide a copy of that decision to the complainant and our office.

MEC responded to our office on November 27, 2020, accepting the recommendations. MEC made an access decision on December 4, 2020.

The full report is available at www.ombudsman.mb.ca/uploads/document/files/case-2020-0634-en.pdf