You can find the full text of our Review Report about the Department of Family Services here: canlii.ca/t/kcv5g. All of our decisions are posted to the free and easy-to-use CanLII legal database. Check it out!

Key passage: "The tight confidentiality rules in the CFSA are a deliberate choice by the Legislative Assembly and must be respected. No matter how well-intentioned, Family Services cannot make up its own rules about who can have access to the personal information in child-protection files."

Key passage (para82): "In this case, I have found there was no unauthorized disclosure of the Complainant’s IME reports. At almost every point, however, the reports could have been handled more carefully than they were." Full text canlii.ca/t/kcrmn

Key passage: "All GN units that collect SINs need to take a hard look at whether collection of the SIN is really necessary. ...If GN units do need to collect SINs – and some do – they have a corresponding responsibility to develop and follow strict policies about access, use, storage, and disposal."

The full text of the Review Report is also available on our website, and in the free, searchable CanLII legal database: canlii.ca/t/k9dwq. Commissioner recommended that the fatality investigation report and a witness statement be disclosed to the Applicant.

New decision (cont'd): Applicant also asked for review of HR's failure to provide a complete response. Commissioner finds some of the requested information is outside scope of the law. Commissioner recommends additional records within scope of the law be disclosed. Full text canlii.ca/t/k88m0