Introduction

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is pleased to submit to Parliament its annual report on the administration of the Access to Information Act for the reporting period commencing on April 1, 2022, and ending on March 31, 2023.

This report is prepared and tabled in accordance with the following:

  • section 94 of the Access to Information Act, which requires that the head of every federal institution prepare and submit an annual report to Parliament on the administration of the act in the institution during the fiscal year

Purpose of the Access to Information Act

The purpose of the Access to Information Act is to enhance the accountability and transparency of federal institutions to promote an open and democratic society and to enable public debate on the conduct of those institutions. To further that purpose:

  • Part 1 extends the present laws of Canada to provide a right of access to information in records under the control of a government institution in accordance with the principles that government information should be available to the public, that necessary exceptions to the right of access should be limited and specific, and that decisions about the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently of government
  • Part 2 sets out requirements for the proactive publication of information

Mandate of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (the Board)

Under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act, the Board is the statutory advisory body to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the national historic significance of places, people, events of Canadian history. The Government of Canada has designated over 2,200 subjects of national historic significance on the advice of the HSMBC since its inception in 1919. The HSMBC is also responsible for providing advice on the designation of heritage railway stations under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act and on the designation of heritage lighthouses under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

The Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage Directorate of Parks Canada (the Directorate), offers secretariat services to the HSMBC and receives approximately 1,000 queries annually from the public, MPs, media and heritage organizations across Canada related to the designation process, information about the HSMBC and previous HSMBC deliberations. The Directorate also processes and responds to about 50 nominations for subjects of possible national historic significance each year. It also administers the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act, the National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers and the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

In 2022-23, two Parks Canada officials had the full delegated authority in relation to the Access to Information Act as it relates to the HSMBC: the Vice-President, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the Director, Heritage Designations and Programs.


Organizational structure

Access to information requests is typically received by the Director, Heritage Designations and Programs. The director processes requests made under the Act; provides strategic advice on the interpretation and application of the Act; provides advice on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information;conducts information sessions regarding the Act; ensures the statutory obligation to abide by the Act’s deadlines; and prepares the annual report for submission to Parliament by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Once a request is received, the Director works with the Manager, Heritage Designations Programs, and their team to locate and retrieve records that have been requested under the Act; identifies information that is sensitive or personal in nature; if necessary, proceeds to consultations with other Directorates within Parks Canada in order to retrieve necessary information; and, if required, seeks guidance from Parks Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Office. The final release package is reviewed by the Manager and Director and released to the requester. Data for reporting purposes is collected by the Directorate throughout the process.

Officials of the Directorate, acting on behalf of the HSMBC, handle a relatively low number of requests received under the Access to Information Act.


Delegation order

Arrêté sur la délégation en vertu de la Loi sur l'accès à l'information et de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Delegation Order

En vertu de l’article 95(1) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et de l’article 73(1) de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels, le ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique délègue aux titulaires de postes mentionnés à l’annexe ci-après, ainsi qu’aux personnes occupant à titre intérimaire lesdits postes, les attributions dont il est, en qualité de responsable de la Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada, investi par les dispositions de la Loi ou de son règlement mentionnées en regard de chaque poste. Le présent document remplace et annule tout arrêté antérieur. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, pursuant to section 95(1) of the Access to Information Act and section 73(1) of the Privacy Act, hereby designates the persons holding the positions set out in the Schedule hereto, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change as the head of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, under the provisions of the Act and related to regulations set out in the schedule opposite each position. This designation replaces all previous delegation orders.
Daté, à la Ville de Gatineau, ce jour de 22-02 2022 Dated, at the City of Gatineau, day of 22-02, 2022
L'original a été signé par l’honorable Steven Guilbeault
Ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique
Original signed by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Annexe / Schedule
Poste / Position Loi sur l'accès à l'information et règlements / Access to information Act and Regulations Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels et règlements / Privacy Act and Regulations
Secrétaire de la Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada, vice-président(e) de la Direction générale des affaires autochtones et du patrimoine culturel, Parcs Canada /
Secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Vice-President of the Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage Directorate, Parks Canada
Autorité absolue / Full authority Autorité absolue / Full authority
Directeur(trice), Désignations et programmes du patrimoine, Parcs Canada /
Director, Heritage Designations and Programs, Parks Canada
Autorité absolue / Full authority Autorité absolue / Full authority

Performance 2022-2023

The Statistical Report submitted on behalf of the HSMBC to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBC) for the period of April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, is also attached.

Because most information requests from the public, media, scholars, businesses, and heritage organizations are related to publicly available information and submitted directly to the Directorate, very few requests are submitted under the Access to Information Act. In 2022-2023, no (0) requests were received under the Access to Information Act.


Training and awareness

No training or awareness activities took place during this period.


Policies, guidelines, procedures and initiatives

Given the small number of requests, the HSMBC has not instituted any new or revised institution-specific policies, guidelines, procedures or initiatives above those already available from TBC. All of the HSMBC’s information holdings are accessible to the public upon release by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, subject to the exemptions provided for in the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act. Access to the material is encouraged through informal mechanisms such as email, the HSMBC website, and telephone messaging.


Initiatives and projects to improve access to information

For the reporting period commencing on April 1, 2023, and ending on March 31, 2024, the delegation under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act on behalf of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was granted to Parks Canada employees responsible for the Parks Canada Access to Information Office. This will ensure that access to information and privacy requests are treated by a dedicated and specialized organizational unit.


Summary of key issues and actions taken on complaints

The HSMBC did not receive any complaints and no investigations were concluded in 2022-2023; there are no issues to report in this regard.


Monitoring compliance

All Directorate officials with management responsibilities related to the HSMBC (supervisors, managers, and directors) are advised of team members’ work hours dedicated to the completion of access to information requests. In 2022-2023, no monitoring was conducted during the reporting period.


2022-2023 Statistical report on the Access to Information Act

Name of institution: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-03-31


Section 1: Requests under the Access to Information Act

1.1 Number of requests

Number of requests
Received during reporting period0
Outstanding from previous reporting periods0
• Outstanding from previous reporting period0
• Outstanding from more than one reporting period0
Total0
Closed during reporting period0
Carried over to next reporting period0
• Carried over within legislated timeline0
• Carried over beyond legislated timeline0

1.2 Sources of requests

Source Number of requests
Media0
Academia0
Business (private sector)0
Organization0
Public0
Decline to Identify0
Total0

1.3 Channels of requests

Source Number of requests
Online0
E-mail0
Mail0
In person0
Phone0
Fax0
Total0

Section 2: Informal requests

2.1 Number of informal requests

Number of requests
Received during reporting period0
Outstanding from previous reporting periods0
• Outstanding from previous reporting period0
• Outstanding from more than one reporting period0
Total0
Closed during reporting period0
Carried over to next reporting period 0

2.2 Channels of informal requests

Source Number of requests
Online0
E-mail0
Mail 0
In person 0
Phone 0
Fax 0
Total0

2.3 Completion time of informal requests

Completion time
1 to 15 Days16 to 30 Days31 to 60 Days61 to 120 Days121 to 180 Days181 to 365 DaysMore Than 365 DaysTotal
0000 0000

2.4 Pages released informally

Less than 100 pages released100-500 pages released501-1000 pages released1001-5000 pages releasedMore than 5000 pages released
Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released
0 000000000

2.5 Pages re-released informally

Less than 100 pages released100-500 pages released501-1000 pages released1001-5000 pages releasedMore than 5000 pages released
Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released Number of requests Pages released
0000000000

Section 3: Applications to the Information Commissioner on declining to act on requests

Number of requests
Outstanding from previous reporting period 0
Sent during reporting period 0
Total0
Approved by the Information Commissioner during reporting period 0
Declined by the Information Commissioner during reporting period0
Withdrawn during reporting period 0
Carried over to next reporting period 0

Section 4: Requests closed during the reporting period

4.1 Disposition and completion time

Disposition of requestsCompletion time
1 to 15 Days16 to 30 Days31 to 60 Days61 to 120 Days121 to 180 Days181 to 365 DaysMore Than 365 DaysTotal
All disclosed00000000
Disclosed in part00000000
All exempted00000000
All excluded00000000
No records exist00000000
Request transferred00000000
Request abandoned00000000
Neither confirmed nor denied00000000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner00000000
Total00000000

4.2 Exemptions

Section Number of requests Section Number of requests Section Number of requests Section Number of requests
13(1)(a)016(2)018(a)020.10
13(1)(b)016(2)(a)018(b)020.20
13(1)(c)016(2)(b)018(c)020.40
13(1)(d)016(2)(c)018(d)021(1)(a)0
13(1)(e)016(3)018.1(1)(a)021(1)(b)0
14016.1(1)(a)018.1(1)(b)021(1)(c)0
14(a)016.1(1)(b)018.1(1)(c)021(1)(d)0
14(b)016.1(1)(c)018.1(1)(d)022 0
15(1)016.1(1)(d)019(1)022.1(1)0
15(1) - I.A.*016.2(1)020(1)(a)0230
15(1) - Def.*016.3020(1)(b)023.10
15(1) - S.A.*016.4(1)(a)020(1)(b.1)024(1)0
16(1)(a)(i)016.4(1)(b)020(1)(c)0260
16(1)(a)(ii)016.5020(1)(d)0
16(1)(a)(iii)016.60
16(1)(b)0170
16(1)(c)0
16(1)(d)0
* I.A.: International Affairs Def.: Defence of Canada S.A.: Subversive Activities

4.3 Exclusions

Section Number of requests Section Number of requests Section Number of requests
68(a) 0 69(1) 0 69(1)(g) re (a) 0
68(b) 0 69(1)(a) 0 69(1)(g) re (b) 0
68(c) 0 69(1)(b) 0 69(1)(g) re (c) 0
68.1 0 69(1)(c) 0 69(1)(g) re (d) 0
68.2(a) 0 69(1)(d) 0 69(1)(g) re (e) 0
68.2(b) 0 69(1)(e) 0 69(1)(g) re (f) 0
69(1)(f) 0 69.1(1) 0

4.4 Format of information released

PaperElectronicOther
E-recordData setVideoAudio
000000

4.5 Complexity

4.5.1 Relevant pages processed and disclosed for paper and e-record formats

Number of pages processed Number of pages disclosed Number of requests
000

4.5.2 Relevant pages processed per request disposition for paper and e-record formats by size of requests

DispositionLess than 100 pages processed100-500 pages processed501-1000 pages processed1001-5000 pages processedMore than 5000 pages processed
Number of requestsPages processedNumber of requestsPages processedNumber of requestsPages processedNumber of requestsPages processedNumber of requestsPages processed
All disclosed0000000000
Disclosed in part0000000000
All exempted0000000000
All excluded0000000000
Request abandoned0000000000
Neither confirmed nor denied0000000000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner0000000000
Total0000000000

4.5.3 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for audio formats

Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
00 0

4.5.4 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for audio formats by size of requests

Disposition Less than 60 minutes processed 60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed00 00 00
Disclosed in part000000
All exempted000000
All excluded000000
Request abandoned 000000
Neither confirmed nor denied 000000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner000000
Total000000

4.5.5 Relevant minutes processed and disclosed for video formats

Number of minutes processed Number of minutes disclosed Number of requests
000

4.5.6 Relevant minutes processed per request disposition for video formats by size of requests

Disposition Less than 60 minutes processed 60 - 120 minutes processed More than 120 minutes processed
Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed Number of requests Minutes processed
All disclosed00 0000
Disclosed in part000000
All exempted000000
All excluded000000
Request abandoned 000000
Neither confirmed nor denied 000000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner000000
Total000000

4.5.7 Other complexities

DispositionConsultation required Legal advice sought OtherTotal
All disclosed 0000
Disclosed in part0000
All exempted0000
All excluded 0000
Request abandoned0000
Neither confirmed nor denied 0000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner0000
Total0000

4.6 Closed requests

4.6.1 Requests closed within legislated timelines

Number of requests closed within legislated timelines0
Percentage of requests closed within legislated timelines (%)0

4.7 Deemed refusals

4.7.1 Reasons for not meeting legislated timelines

Number of requests closed past the legislated timelinesPrincipal reason
Interference with operations/ WorkloadExternal consultationInternal consultationOther
00000

4.7.2 Requests closed beyond legislated timelines (including any extension taken)

Number of days past legislated timelines Number of requests past legislated timeline where no extension was taken Number of requests past legislated timeline where an extension was taken Total
1 to 15 days 000
16 to 30 days000
31 to 60 days000
61 to 120 days000
121 to 180 days 000
181 to 365 days000
More than 365 days000
Total0 00

4.8 Requests for translation

Translation requestsAcceptedRefusedTotal
English to French000
French to English 000
Total000

Section 5: Extensions

5.1  Reasons for extensions and disposition of requests

Disposition of requests where an extension was taken9(1)(a) Interference With Operations/ Workload9(1)(b) Consultation9(1)(c) Third-Party Notice
Section 69Other
All disclosed0000
Disclosed in part0000
All exempted0000
All excluded0000
Request abandoned0000
No records exist0000
Declined to act with the approval of the Information Commissioner0000
Total0000

5.2 Length of extensions

Length of extensions9(1)(a) Interference With Operations/ Workload9(1)(b) Consultation9(1)(c) Third-Party Notice
Section 69Other
30 days or less0000
31 to 60 days0000
61 to 120 days0000
121 to 180 days0000
181 to 365 days0000
365 days or more 0000
Total0000

Section 6: Fees

Fee typeFee collected Fee waived Fee refunded
Number of requestsAmountNumber of requestsAmountNumber of requestsAmount
Application0$0.000$0.00 0$0.00
Other fees 0$0.000$0.000$0.00
Total3$0.000$0.000$0.00

Section 7: Consultations received from other institutions and organizations

7.1  Consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions and other organizations

ConsultationsOther Government of Canada institutionsNumber of pages to reviewOther organizationsNumber of pages to review
Received during the reporting period0000
Outstanding from the previous reporting period0000
Total0000
Closed during the reporting period0000
Carried over within negotiated timelines0000
Carried over beyond negotiated timelines0000

7.2 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions

Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely00000000
Disclose in part00000000
Exempt entirely00000000
Exclude entirely00000000
Consult other institution00000000
Other00000000
Total00000000

7.3 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other organizations outside the Government of Canada

Recommendation Number of days required to complete consultation requests
1 to 15 days 16 to 30 days 31 to 60 days 61 to 120 days 121 to 180 days 181 to 365 days More than 365 days Total
Disclose entirely00000000
Disclose in part00000000
Exempt entirely 00000000
Exclude entirely00000000
Consult other institution00000000
Other00000000
Total00000000

Section 8: Completion time of consultations on cabinet confidences

8.1 Requests with Legal Services

Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 100-500 pages processed501-1000 pages processed1001-5000 pages processedMore than 5000 pages processed
Number of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosed
1 to 150000000000
16 to 30 0000000000
31 to 600000000000
61 to 1200000000000
121 to 1800000000000
181 to 3650000000000
More than 3650000000000
Total0 000000000

8.2 Requests with Privy Council Office

Number of days Fewer than 100 pages processed 100-500 pages processed501-1000 pages processed1001-5000 pages processedMore than 5000 pages processed
Number of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosedNumber of requestsPages disclosed
1 to 15 0000000000
16 to 300000000000
31 to 60 0000000000
61 to 1200000000000
121 to 1800000000000
181 to 3650000000000
More than 3650000000000
Total0000000000

Section 9: Investigations and reports of finding

9.1 Investigations

Section 32 Notice of intention to investigateSubsection 30(5) Ceased to investigateSection 35 Formal Representations
000

9.2 Investigations and Reports of finding

Section 37(1) Initial Reports Section 37(2) Final Reports
Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner Received Containing recommendations issued by the Information Commissioner Containing orders issued by the Information Commissioner
000000

Section 10: Court action

10.1 Court actions on complaints

Section 41
Complainant (1) Institution (2) Third Party (3) Privacy Commissioner (4) Total
00000

10.2 Court actions on third party notifications under paragraph 28(1)(b)

Section 44 - under paragraph 28(1)(b)
0

Section 11: Resources related to the Access to Information Act

11.1 Allocated costs

Expenditures Amount
Salaries $0
Overtime $0
Goods and services $0
• Professional services contracts$0
• Other $0
Total$0

11.2  Human resources

Resources Person years dedicated to access to information activities
Full-time employees 0.000
Part-time and casual employees 0.000
Regional staff 0.000
Consultants and agency personnel 0.000
Students 0.000
Total0.000

Supplemental statistical report on the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act

Name of institution: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-03-31


Section 1: Capacity to receive requests under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act

Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to receive ATIP requests through the different channels.

Number of Weeks
Able to receive requests by mail52
Able to receive requests by email52
Able to receive requests through the digital request service52

Section 2: Capacity to process records under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act

2.1 Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to process paper records in different classification levels

No CapacityPartial CapacityFull CapacityTotal
Unclassified Paper Records052052
Protected B Paper Records052052
Secret and Top Secret Paper Records052052

2.2 Enter the number of weeks your institution was able to process electronic records in different classification levels

No CapacityPartial CapacityFull CapacityTotal
Unclassified Electronic Records005252
Protected B Electronic Records005252
Secret and Top Secret Electronic Records520052

Section 3: Open requests and complaints under the Access to Information Act

3.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Requests Were ReceivedOpen Requests that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2023Open Requests that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2023Total
Received in 2022-2023000
Received in 2021-2022000
Received in 2020-2021000
Received in 2019-2020000
Received in 2018-2019000
Received in 2017-2018000
Received in 2016-2017000
Received in 2015-2016000
Received in 2014-2015000
Received in 2013-2014 or earlier000
Total000
Row 11, Col. 3 of Section 3.1 must equal Row 7, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2022-2023 Statistical Report on the Access to Information Act

3.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Information Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Complaints Were Received by InstitutionNumber of Open Complaints
Received in 2022-20230
Received in 2021-20220
Received in 2020-20210
Received in 2019-20200
Received in 2018-20190
Received in 2017-20180
Received in 2016-20170
Received in 2015-20160
Received in 2014-20150
Received in 2013-2014 or earlier0
Total0

Section 4: Open requests and complaints under the Privacy Act

4.1 Enter the number of open requests that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Requests Were ReceivedOpen Requests that are Within Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2023Open Requests that are Beyond Legislated Timelines as of March 31, 2023Total
Received in 2022-2023000
Received in 2021-2022000
Received in 2020-2021000
Received in 2019-2020000
Received in 2018-2019000
Received in 2017-2018000
Received in 2016-2017000
Received in 2015-2016000
Received in 2014-2015000
Received in 2013-2014 or earlier000
Total000
Row 11, Col. 3 of Section 4.1 must equal Row 7, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2022-2023 Statistical Report on the Privacy Act

4.2 Enter the number of open complaints with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada that are outstanding from previous reporting periods

Fiscal Year Open Complaints Were Received by InstitutionNumber of Open Complaints
Received in 2022-20230
Received in 2021-20220
Received in 2020-20210
Received in 2019-20200
Received in 2018-20190
Received in 2017-20180
Received in 2016-20170
Received in 2015-20160
Received in 2014-20150
Received in 2013-2014 or earlier0
Total0

Section 5: Social Insurance Number

Has your institution begun a new collection or a new consistent use of the SIN in 2022-2023?No

Section 6: Universal access under the Privacy Act

How many requests were received from confirmed foreign nationals outside ofCanada in 2022-2023?0
Row 1, Col. 1 of Section 6 must be equal to or less than Row 1, Col. 1 of Section 1.1 of the 2022-2023 Statistical Report on the Privacy Act

Date modified :