The privacy commissioner has recommended that the College of the North Atlantic release all responsive records related to an Access to Information Request seeking internal records and aggregate legal fees related to a number of court matters.

The college initially responded by withholding all responsive records, but the complainant was not satisfied with that answer and filed with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

The complainant’s argument was that they were not seeking records covered by solicitor-client privilege but were seeking records for which privilege does not apply.

The Privacy Commissioner is recommending that the records be released within 20 business days and that the College of the North Atlantic confirm that the practice of destroying emails of former employees remain paused until all aspects of the files are concluded.