PO-4494

The appellant submitted a request under the Act to the ministry for the criteria used under the Ontario Autism Program (the OAP) to determine the budget of core services for a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The ministry located one record, the Determination of Needs Tool (the tool), and denied the appellant access to it. The ministry withheld the record under the discretionary exemption in section 18(1)(d) (economic and other interests) of the Act. The appellant appealed the ministry’s decision and raised the possible application of the public interest override in section 23. In this order, the adjudicator finds the tool qualifies for exemption under section 18(1)(d) and the public interest override does not apply. The ministry’s decision is upheld, and the appeal is dismissed.