Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Access to Information
The request is not narrowed. “Abandoned” and “hold” are not in the Act: name the provision or withdraw them by 23 October.
The letter ·
Re: Your Access to Information Act request: A-2026-56622
Hello,
Access to Information request A-2026-56622
1. The request is not narrowed. Items 1 to 4 and the period from 8 September 2022 to 29 September 2026 stand as filed.
2. The request meets section 6 of the Access to Information Act. It names the Schedule to the Citizenship Act, the text of the oath administered by the Department and the period. An experienced employee of the Department identifies the records with reasonable effort.
3. Drafts and working-level records are not excluded. Any record withheld under section 69 is listed in the response by its date and title.
4. The Act contains no provision under which a request is placed on hold, and no provision under which a request is abandoned. Neither word appears in the Act. The request was received on 1 October 2026, and the response is due by 31 October 2026 under section 7. A date of 16 November 2026 has no basis in the Act.
5. This is the second request in which the Department has written the same sentence. On 18 September 2026 it set 19 October 2026 as the date on which request A-2026-50926 would be "considered abandoned".
Name the provision of the Act under which the Department considers a request abandoned, or withdraw that statement in writing by 23 October 2026. Respond to items 1 to 4 by 31 October 2026.
No response by 31 October 2026 goes to the Information Commissioner of Canada under paragraphs 30(1)(a) and 30(1)(f). The Commissioner is already investigating the same conduct of other institutions, files 5826-04748 and 5826-04749.
This exchange goes into the public record at https://dzyuban.com/legal/record/requests/
Respectfully,
Danilo Dzyuban
The answer ·
?Dear Danilo Dzyuban:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your request submitted pursuant to Access to Information Act, which was received on October 1, 2026, for the following records:
"The Schedule to the Citizenship Act, as published on the Justice Laws Website and captured on 28 September 2026, sets out an oath of allegiance to "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors". Queen Elizabeth the Second died on 8 September 2022. The page of the Department "Citizenship ceremony: What to expect at the ceremony", captured on 29 September 2026, sets out an oath of allegiance to "His Majesty King Charles the Third", King of Canada, "His Heirs and Successors". The Department administers the oath to every new citizen of Canada.
RECORDS REQUESTED.
Period: 8 September 2022 to September 29, 2026.
1. Every instruction, bulletin, directive or guidance to citizenship judges, citizenship officers or presiding officials setting out the text of the oath or affirmation of citizenship to be administered after 8 September 2022.2. Records identifying the legal authority for administering a text that differs from the text in the Schedule to the Citizenship Act. 3. Records concerning any proposal to amend the Schedule to the Citizenship Act after 8 September 2022. 4. Where no record exists for an item, a statement to that effect for that item, naming the officer who conducted the search. The duty to assist in subsection 4(2.1) of the Act requires it."
In order to process your request, we require clarification on the following points:
1. As currently phrased, items 2 and 3 may encompass a broad range of records, including legal analyses, policy discussions, briefing materials, correspondence, draft documents, and records relating to potential legislative considerations over a four-year period.
You may wish to consider whether your interest is limited to:
* final or approved instructions, bulletins, directives, or guidance regarding the administration of the citizenship oath following September 8, 2022;
* records identifying the final legal authority relied upon to administer the oath using the revised wording following the accession of King Charles III; and/or
* final recommendations, decision documents, briefing notes, or approved proposals concerning amendments to the Schedule to the Citizenship Act, rather than all discussions, drafts, and working-level records.2. You may also wish to consider narrowing the timeframe of the request. For example, if your interest relates specifically to the change in oath wording following the accession of King Charles III, the search could be restricted to records created during the period in which the revised wording was developed and implemented, rather than extending to September 29, 2026.
In addition, please advise whether you would be willing to exclude:
* draft records and working-level discussions; and
* records that would be excluded Cabinet confidences.Limiting the request in this manner may help reduce the volume of records requiring review while still capturing records reflecting final decisions, approved positions, and operational direction.
Please note that we will put your request on hold until we receive the requested information from you. If we have not received your reply by November 16, 2026, we will consider the request abandoned and close our file accordingly.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,