Inside Politics

UPDATED - Access to Info Watch: Back down the rabbit-hole in search of documents that never were (Part One)

by Kady O'Malley Posted: June 26, 2012 1:01 PM Last Updated: June 26, 2012 4:48 PM
As some readers may recall, last November, I celebrated the then-imminent launch of the government's initiative to post all Access to Information requests online by embarking on what turned out to be bit of a reverse treasure hunt, seeking out information that, despite the best efforts of both the searcher and the source, simply refused to be found.

Digging through the ATI request logs that were already available, I collected examples of requested information that, according to the government, didn't exist -- not exempted, or excepted, or otherwise protected from disclosure, but simply not there.

That was six months ago, and since then, virtually every federal institution covered by ATI laws has complied with the new rules. Given that, I thought it was time to make a return trip to the info hinterlands, in search of new revelations of information that isn't.

As was the case with the last batch, there are queries where the apparent lack of any relevant records seems noteworthy by its absence, particularly those directly related to potentially contentious policy shifts or legislation.

According to Human Resources Development Canada, for instance, not a single report was conducted or commissioned to "show the cost or potential outcomes of providing employment insurance benefits to parents of murdered or missing or gravely ill children," nor was there a single piece of email or letters exchanged between the office of Minister Diane Finley and "public servants" on "changes to the Canada Pension Plan or its viability."

Similarly, over at Justice, there are apparently no reports that "assess the effects of expanding the ability of citizens to make their own arrests," despite the staunch support from both the minister and his government for a bill that would do precisely that.


It's difficult to fathom how the Canadian International Development Agency could fail to turn up a single piece of "correspondence" related to "media inquiries and coverage of expenses" incurred by Minister Bev Oda that was generated between April 1 and April 25, 2012, although on that note, it isn't entirely unexpected that there are apparently no "detailed expense claims" available for the minister's trip to "the Ukraine [sic]" the same month the story of her stay at the Savoy broke.

Still, one would assume Citizenship and Immigration would be able to produce statistics on the immigration investor program -- specifically, the number of applications received for, and issued to "principal applicants," as well as the number of interviews waived, the failure rate and the distribution of funds.

Further, one might, after all, reasonably expect the Canada Revenue Agency to be able to produce at least a couple of records "concerning the United States of America 2010 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act," and specifically, how the CRA "will be complying (or not)" with the Act in question, but one would be wrong.

As for those of you who might have bet money that Environment Canada would have produced at least a couple of "cost benefit analysis and communications strategy documents" for the deputy minister and/or chief climate change negotiator related to the option of pulling out of Kyoto before the end of 2012, all one can say is ... pay up.

Not surprisingly, some queries are clearly sparked by the headlines of the day -- Public Safety, it seems, does not possess any records related to "misleading phone calls about polling station locations" from May 1 to December 31 2011, nor can Foreign Affairs provide any "memos, reports, emails and other documents that discuss how to reform or eliminate Canada's supply management system," at least as far as the period between May 1, 2011 and January 16, 2012.

Others appear to be the ATI equivalent of a shot in the dark -- unlikely to find a target, but on the off chance that it did, well worth the $5 investment to ask the question: "records discussing drug use complaints" in various parliamentary buildings (Public Works and Government Services Canada), or documents "related to the number and costs" of government-sponsored "promotional spots" that aired during last year's Super Bowl (Treasury Board Secretariat), neither of which, alas, uncovered so much as a single page.

But the award for fielding the most intriguing, if seemingly non-sequiturial requests goes to the ATIP team at the Privy Council Office.

Over the last six months, they have been obliged to dutifully search the archives in response to demands for, among other things, "any offer of employment made to Thomas Mulcair of Montreal, QC", all "communications" between the PCO media room and CBC "or its representatives" since August 1, 2011 and "the Prime Minister's discretionary expense account" from the day he took office until last February -- not one of which, it bears noting, bore fruit. 

Here's a selection of other records, paper and material that has been officially deemed not to exist, at least in the specific form of, or source from which it was requested:

NOTE: The following list covers only departments -- results from agencies and other ATI-eligible institutions in a subsequent post. 

UPDATE: The second -- and final, at least for the moment -- instalment has now been posted! Read it here. 

Aboriginal and Northern Affairs

  • Report on fraud with Indian status card for January 1, 2006 to December 6, 2011.
  • The order approving the settlement agreement on residential schools.
  • All documents regarding funding to First Nations groups provided by foreign foundations since January 1, 2009.
  • Briefing notes in any department of Indian Affairs about the appointment of Patrick Brazeau to the Senate.

Agriculture Canada

  • Federal Corporation 3574571 Canada Inc. (CIRDE) or identified as Corporation International Research and Development of the Emu (CIRDE) Ltd. A successful grant was provided to this Corporation in the years between 1999-2003. I understand that this grant came from the Revenue Agency in Research and Development in Agriculture. I want copies of the grant application and any related records that may exist pertaining to same
  • Federal government grants and guarantees for the Coopérative de producteurs de pommes du Québec, announced in the news release dated May 21, 2008 (""Government of Canada Announces $59,000 for a Co-operative in St-Joseph-du-Lac"") to date (as of December 21, 2011).

Canada Revenue Agency
 
  • Documents indicating the color and cost of the most recent painting of the following individuals' offices at the Canada Revenue Agency: Linda Liznotte-MacPherson, Commissioner; and Bill Jones, Deputy Commissioner.


Canadian Heritage

  • Project funding applications submitted for, co-signed by, or supported by the Togolese community in Canada.
  • Expenses related to French-language training for former Minister Bev Oda in 2006 and 2007 at the Institut de Français in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
  • Communications between Robert Henderson, the creator of War of 1812.ca, and the Department from April 23, 2012 to April 26, 2012.


Canadian International Development Agency

  • The rating and ranking (including Name of organization, title of project, the theme, the country and the amount being requested) by CIDA for proposals submitted for consideration by the Minister for the ''Global Citizens Program International Youth.
  • Contribution agreement between CIDA and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) for the $6 million funding as part of the Government's Muskoka Initiative on maternal and child health.
  • Role of female soldiers who participated in Canada's military engagement in Afghanistan. Specifically, please provide from 2002 to present - Role of female Canadian soldiers in development - Canadian female soldiers as liaisons with Afghan population
  • All communications and correspondence discussing either a) the possible dissolution of CIDA, or b) a possible merger of CIDA with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Timeframe: From May 2, 2011, to January 31, 2012.
  • Provide detailed expense claims for Minister Bev Oda's trip to the Ukraine in April 2012


Citizenship and Immigration Canada

  • All records related to any communications regarding the meeting of citizenship judges in Ottawa during which Minister Jason Kenney asked about individuals wearing the niqab or other face-covering garments during citizenship ceremonies.
  • All transcripts, summaries, audiotapes and videotapes of interviews with and amongst Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials, and Canada Border Services Agency officials, and Randy and Evi Quaid in 2010-2011, as well as any reports, analysis, commentary or correspondence regarding the Quaid's general claims of 'Hollywood star whacking,' the topic's reality, history, probability, future risks, etc.
  • The total amount of money spent annually by CIC for purchases of alcohol including beer, wine, champagne and any other alcohol for parties, cocktails and other events including all expenditures made by officials including the Minister and Deputy Minister and their staff for each of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, up until April 19, 2012.


Environment Canada

  • Briefing notes regarding Canada's role in the Kyoto Protocol and/or the decision to withdraw from the agreement (November 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011)
  • Documents relating to Forest Ethics and Nikki Skuce regarding the Gateway Pipeline (January 1, 2011- January 18, 2012)
  • Documents regarding specific foreign foundations providing funding to Canadian NGOs or charities (January 1, 2011- January 20, 2012)

Finance Canada

  • Correspondence August 1, 2011 to January 9, 2012 between the Premier of British Columbia and/or any member of her staff and the Finance Minister of Canada and/or any member of his staff in reference to the Harmonized Sales Tax
  • Detailed list of infrastructure programs funded by Canada's Economic Action Plan 2009 to 2011
  • Briefing material for the Minister January 1, 2011 to February 9, 2012, regarding Research in Motion
  • Records February 1, 2012 to March 20, 2012, about possible changes to the Fisheries Act
  • Estimates July 1, 2011 to April 20, 2012, of the costs resulting from the passage of Bill C-10, the omnibus crime bill, the "Safe Streets and Communities Act"; records related to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report of February 2011

Foreign Affairs

  • Records regarding Internet censorship, either by Canada or other government bodies, from a policy viewpoint, created between January 1, 2011 and January 9, 2012
  • Copies of all documents, including memos, briefing notes, talking points, media lines, meeting summaries, e-mails, at Riyadh embassy or from Riyadh mission regarding impacts of the "ethical oil" campaign and television - June 1, 2011 to January 20, 2012
  • Final reports or memos originating from Minister of International Trade office referring to 'adversaries', 'enemies', 'radicals' or other oppositional groups, relating to the proposed Keystone pipeline. Timeframe January 1, 2011 to January 3, 2012.
  • All internal documents that mention environmentalists, including references to radicals, adversaries, enemies of the state, and foreign-puppets, from October 1, 2011 to February 13, 2012.


Human Resources Development Canada

  • All briefing notes provided to Human Resources Deputy Minister Ian Shugart on the topic of retirement income reform between Jan. 9 and Feb. 10, 2012.
  • Briefing materials for the Minister or Deputy Minister since April 2011 on Temporary Work Permits for Exotic Dancers.

Justice

  • A list of the current lawsuits or other legal actions against the Canadian government concerning asbestos exports, along with details of the damages sought. I would also like to know the accumulated costs of the lawsuits.
  • How much time it will take to remove long guns from the gun registry and how much it will cost? Briefing notes (drafts, final versions and e-mails) from Justice Minister Rob Nicholson between May 3rd, 2011, and January 31st, 2012.

Health Canada

  • All documents that lists the follow-up activities, such as research and scientific monitoring, that Health Canada has undertaken since May 15, 2006 to enhance the scientific basis for the Department's decision to exclude personnel who worked with nonhuman primates from donating blood as a precautionary measure.
  • All documents regarding to the use of steroids in hockey. (Nov 1, 2008 to Nov 30, 2011).
  • All documents related to bioterror and biological or chemical weapons. (Jan 1, 2009 to Mar 13, 2012).

Infrastructure Canada

  • Documents regarding building materials, contractors and schematics for Economic Action Plan stimulus project: City of Ottawa, local road infrastructure, pedestrian, new sidewalks - city wide


National Defence

  • Document showing the number of CF members treated for post-traumatic shock since the start of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan in 2002
  • Documentation/records that indicate what other submarines were considered for purchase by Canada in the two years leading up to the purchase of the Victoria-class submarines and written reasons for their rejection
  • Notes, materials, slides and resources that were used, prepared or relied upon by Col Mario Dutil for his appearance at the CBA Conference titled "Canada's Military Citizens: The Intersection of Military and Civilian Laws" held 1 Dec 11 at CFB Stadacona
  • Briefing notes prepared for the period 1 Jan 12 to 31 Jan 12 on the topic of Citizenship and Immigration department's Special Immigration Measures for Afghan Nationals


Natural Resources Canada

  • For the period of January 1, 2010 to January 26, 2012, records at the Assistant Deputy Minister level and above relating to the transportation of natural gas condensate, the spill effect such a mix would have on the environment, and its transmission effect on the life of a pipeline.  Provide a list of existing lines carrying the mix as well as safety and environmental spill incidents.
  • For the period January 2011 to February 9, 2012, all meeting agendas and minutes involving the Pan-European Oil Sands advocacy team/strategy.
  • For the period between January 1st, 2010 and January 4, 2012: All documents relating to the export of Chrysotile asbestos to Haiti.


Privy Council Office

  • Documents prepared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and sent to the Prime Minister between September 1, 2011, and December 6, 2011
  • 2011 briefing notes PCO provided to the PM's Parliamentary secretary Dean Del Mastro
  • Records and correspondence since January 1, 2009 pertaining to Greenpeace, Forest Ethics and other environmental organizations
  • All documents in the Department's possession regarding expenses incurred for the party and/or celebration organized by the Prime Minister on February 15, 2012
  • Records on the selection of Real Women as Diamond Jubilee Medal non-governmental partners since February 3, 2011


Public Works and Government Services

  • Documents that examine the extent of IBM supplied mainframes government wide and options and methods of cost savings in this lease area, and IT architecture reforms possible.
  • Documents on police investigations at PWGSC offices, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, concerning fraud, theft, wrongful acts, false fire alarms, terrorist groups and so on, between September 11, 2001, and January 20, 2012.
  • Correspondence originating from Michael Fortier and/or Marie Kirouac sent to or replying to Dmitri Soudas and containing the words "Dmitri Soudas", from 2007 to December 15, 2011.


Transport Canada

  • Safety of the Champlain Bridge from February 6 to August 6, 2010 (two requests)
  • Emails on the safety and actual condition of the Champlain Bridge and steps that lead to October 5, 2011 announcement
  • All documents for the Minister on the construction of a new airport near Toronto from January 2010 to December 2011
  • Records of violations reported from pat downs conducted by airport security officials from 2011 to 2012
  • All helicopter flights that took off and/or landed at the Sept-Îles airport on August 17, 2010

Treasury Board

  • Copy of agreement between the federal government and the Government of Ontario, as it concerns cost-sharing protocol for any disbursements made to General Motors Corporation and Chrysler, between April 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011.
  • All documents related to the number and costs of promotional spots paid by the Government of Canada televised during the Super Bowl and pre-game show on February 5, 2012, on CTV and NBC between 12:00 p.m. ET and 12:00 a.m. ET.
  • All briefing notes to the President in relation to federal government spending cuts from January 20, 2012 to March 8, 2012.

Tags: access to information, ATIwatch, blackberry jungle