For the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), compliance to the Access to Information and Privacy legislation is an essential part of the organization's commitment to transparency and ethical values. The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) office is part of the Knowledge, Information and Technology Services Branch (KITS). Our mandate is to administer the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, and to ensure that the NRC is in compliance with legislative and policy requirements.
About the laws
The purpose of the Access to Information Act is to provide Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any person present in Canada, the right of access to information contained in government records, subject to certain specific and limited exceptions.
The Privacy Act extends to individuals the right of access to information about themselves held by the government, subject to specific and limited exceptions. The Privacy Act also protects the privacy rights of individuals by limiting collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
Submitting an online request to the National Research Council of Canada
The ATIP Online Request Service offers a convenient way to submit access to information or personal information requests.
This service enables individuals to make online requests for information under the control of Government of Canada institutions instead of having to print, scan and email or mail a form to the correct institution. Submit request online.
Both Acts allow for a legal response time of 30 calendar days from the date an official request is received. However, the Acts also allow for legal extensions. You will be notified should an extension of the response time be required under either Act. Please consult the following document: Principles followed by the NRC in assisting requesters.
Annual reports to Parliament
Section 72 of both the Access to Information Act and of the Privacy Act require that the head of every government institute shall prepare, for submission to Parliament, an annual report on the administrations of the Acts during each fiscal year. For more specific information as to how the NRC discharges its responsibilities in relation to the Acts, refer to our annual reports to Parliament:
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
NRC's information holdings
To find out about the NRC's information holdings which contains a series of publications about and/or collected by the Government of Canada, visit our Info Source. The primary purpose of Info Source is to assist individuals exercise their rights under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. Info Source also supports the federal government's commitment in facilitating access to information and its activities.
Right of redress
Applicants who feel their requests were handled unfairly or in violation of the Acts may file a complaint. Access-related matters are directed to the Office of the Information Commissioner for redress while privacy-related matters go to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Note:
Summaries of completed ATI requests by the NRC for January 2014 onwards are now posted on the Open Government Portal.
Contact us
For more Information on Access to Information and Privacy at the National Research Council of Canada, contact the ATIP office.
Telephone: 613-993-3464
Email: atip-aiprp@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca