During her opening comments, the Commissioner referred to her 1999-2000 annual report suggesting that an amendment be added to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act specifying that the head of a public body would be deemed to have accepted the Commissioner's recommendation if that public body had not responded within 30 days.
The Accountability and Oversight Committee did not agree with the Commissioner's recommendation at that time and instead suggested an amendment stating that the head of a public body would be deemed to have refused the Commissioner's recommendation if that public body has not responded within 30 days.
The government agreed with the committee and is currently drafting an amendment for a deemed refusal clause.
The standing committee re-considered the issue given the Commissioner's concerns, however, and ultimately decided that the deemed refusal clause was a more appropriate action for the government to take. The standing committee will review the amendment for a deemed refusal clause once it is presented by the government.