B.C. criticized for slow response to FOI requests.

• Position: GOVERNMENT RECORDS - British Columbia

British Columbia is too slow in responding to information requests from the public under the Freedom of Information (FOI) process, according to a government watchdog.

In his report released in February, David Loukidelis, the province's information and privacy commissioner, highlights "what can only be described as an unacceptable pattern of government-wide failure to respond to access requests in as timely a fashion as it should."

The government is required to respond within 30 business days to an FOI request. But it is late almost one-third of the time, Loukidelis found.

According to Loukidelis, the delays are at least partly caused by the province's complicated approval process--some information requires as many as 12 people to sign off before it can be released. Other factors that delay the process include poor records management and complex cross-ministry consultations, he said.

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Canwest News Service found that the government processed 5,999 FOI requests last year, with an average response time of 35 business days. Business and public bodies received on-time responses between 79% and 94% of the time. However, Loukidelis said he found "disturbing" delays for media, political parties, and special interest groups. For media requests, the...