Statement from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario on Supreme Court mandate letters decision to hear appeal

Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court of Canada granting the Ontario government leave to appeal the decision that the government must disclose its mandate letters:

“The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the Attorney General for Ontario’s appeal of the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, regarding IPC Order PO-3973 continues judicial deliberation on this important case about the public’s right to access government information. A judgment by the Supreme Court could set a significant precedent for deciding future cases involving access to key records such as mandate letters that can help the public understand the plans and approaches of governments. We welcome the opportunity to address the Supreme Court of Canada on this important matter, and look forward to the Supreme Court’s ruling.”

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