PO-4516

The appellant sought access to all university records during a specific period regarding his appointment to a position with an external organization while he was a professor at the university. The university located responsive records and granted the appellant access to most of them. To withhold some records and information, the university relied on the discretionary exemption in section 49(a) (discretion to refuse requester’s own information), read with section 13(1) (advice or recommendations). It also withheld information that was not responsive to the request.
The appellant challenged the university’s decision and asserted that the withheld information should be ordered disclosed under section 23 because disclosure is in the public interest.
In this order, the adjudicator upholds the university’s decision that the information it withheld under section 49(a) read with section 13(1) is exempt from disclosure. She also concludes that the public interest override does not apply because the withheld information does not relate to the geopolitical issue the appellant cites; rather, the withheld information relates to a university resources allocation matter.