Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Appeal under subsection 50(1) of FIPPA on the exemptions in the Ontario Works file: no paragraph named, no law enforcement matter named.
The letter ·
Appeal under section 50 (1) FIPPA - Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, request CSS-2026-2794, decision of 17 September 2026
Hello,
I appeal the access decision of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services dated 17 September 2026 on request CSS-2026-2794. The request was for my own Ontario Works application file. The decision withholds parts of that file and states one thing about them: that the file "contains full or partial redactions under section S.14 Law Enforcement of the Act."
The decision names no subsection. Section 14 contains 3 subsections and more than 12 separate grounds, each with its own test. I require the Ministry to identify, record by record, the provision it relies on.
Nor does the decision name a law enforcement matter. The records are an application for social assistance decided under the Ontario Works Act, 1997. The withheld passages sit around the correspondence about my immigration status, including a case note of 2 July 2026 at 12:31:16 that reads "IRCC immigration match for ineligible refugee claimant. PRRA or H&C requested and to be returned by 15/07". An eligibility determination under that Act is not a law enforcement proceeding. The decision names no investigation and no proceeding.
The request was for my own personal information. Access to one's own personal information is refused under section 49 (a), which is discretionary. The decision does not cite section 49 (a), gives no reason, and shows no exercise of discretion. I require the Commissioner to review that exercise.
The decision does not state that severance under subsection 10 (2) was considered. Parts of the same pages were released and parts were not, which makes the question live on every page.
I require an index of the withheld records, the exemption claimed for each, and the reason for each, and I require an order for disclosure. I also require the file to be assigned to mediation and, where mediation does not resolve it, to adjudication.
The decision issued on 17 September 2026 and the 30 days run to 17 October 2026. This appeal is brought within that period.
Respectfully,
Danilo Dzyuban
The answer ·
Good morning Danilo,
Thank you for contacting the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
If you made a formal freedom of information request (in writing with a $5 application fee) and are not satisfied with the access decision, including the estimated fee or the response to a fee waiver request, you have the right to appeal to our office.
Appeal Process
Option 1 – Online appeal* You must file an appeal within 30 business days of the date of the decision letter.
* The appeal fee for personal information requests is $10.00 and for all other requests it is $25.00.
* This online form<https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/dataset/on00345>; can be used to file an appeal and pay the applicable appeal fee.
* Please attach a copy of your original freedom of information request and the decision letter to the online form.Option 2 – Mail appeal to the IPC
* Alternatively, you can complete and mail this appeal form<https://www.ipc.on.ca/en/resources-and-decisions/appeal-form-fippamfippa>; and the applicable fee (payable to “The Minister of Finance” by cheque or money order) to the following address:
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Attn: IPC Registrar
1400-2 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON [postal code]
* Please include a copy of your original freedom of information request and the decision letter.
About the IPC
Our office oversees Ontario’s access and privacy laws<https://www.ipc.on.ca/about-us/the-acts/>;. These laws set the rules for how Ontario’s public institutions, health care providers, children’s aid societies and other child and family service providers collect, use, and disclose personal information.We hope this general information will be helpful. While we cannot give you legal advice, we make every effort to help you. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Kind regards,