Access to Information
Judicial review of Minister of Health’s refusal to disclose “province” data field in Canadian Adverse Drug Reactions Information System (CADRIS) database — Refusal based on privacy grounds pursuant to Access to Information Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. A-1, s. 19 — In CADRIS, “province” referring to province from within which report in question received — “Personal information” defined in Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21, s. 3 — Information recorded in any form constituting information “about” particular individual if permitting, leading to possible identification thereof — Evidence that disclosure of “province” field would substantially increase possibility that “particular” individuals could be identified — Since “province” field constituting “personal information”, respondent, as head of government institution, correctly refusing disclosure thereof — Public interest in disclosure of information not outweighing invasion of privacy resulting therefrom — Application dismissed.
Gordon v. Canada (Minister of Health) (T-347-06, 2008 FC 258, Gibson J., order dated 27/2/08, 24 pp.)