The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has released Report A-2026-014 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.
To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/reports/.
| Report: | A-2026-014 |
| Report Date: | May 28, 2026 |
| Public Body: | Department of Government Services |
| Summary: | The Department of Government Services received an access request for internal communications related to statute-barred or potentially statute-barred Income Support overpayment debts; debt enforceability or limitation periods; screening or verification of debts prior to collection actions or referral to the Canada Revenue Agency; and issues, findings, or concerns raised by the Office of the Auditor General regarding older debts. The Department responded by providing partial access to the records, but withheld some information, citing the exceptions to access in sections 29 (policy advice and recommendations), 30 (legal advice), 40 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy) and 41 (statutory office). This Report concluded that the Department had appropriately applied the exceptions under sections 29, 30, and 40, and that the records previously withheld under section 41 should continue to be withheld under s. 30(2) of the Auditor General Act, 2021. |
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Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309
2026 05 29
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