e-3500 (Information and privacy)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• Democracy is strengthened when information is publicly accessible;
• Presently, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) requires ATIPs be submitted using paper, an envelope, a cheque and a stamp;
• In contrast, many federal departments already have an online system for filing ATIP requests;
• CSC previously stated on their website that an electronic system for filing ATIPs would be in place by 2021;
• Paper-based ATIPs cause delays, as individuals must wait for their ATIPs to be received, acknowledged and responded to by CSC;
• After using an online My Account system, the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada reduced the number of outstanding requests and improved timeline compliance from 64% to 75%;
• Prisoners in CSC's care and control are often illiterate and therefore require the assistance of outside support to file an ATIP request;
• CSC's paper-based ATIP process likely disproportionately harms Indigenous prisoners who are often far from home and do not have extensive local external supports;
• CSC's paper-based ATIP process has a negative environmental impact as it requires excessive amounts of paper; and
• Prisoners in CSC's care and control have died before having their ATIP completed by CSC, at which point CSC declares their ATIP moot.