{"id":8886,"date":"2026-09-25T09:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T13:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/?p=8886"},"modified":"2026-09-25T09:32:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T13:32:39","slug":"access-to-information-in-north-hatley-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-obtain-public-documents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/en\/2026\/09\/25\/access-to-information-in-north-hatley-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-obtain-public-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"Access to Information in North Hatley: Why Is It So Difficult to Obtain Public Documents?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On September 8, I submitted an access-to-information request to the Municipality of North Hatley seeking all documents related to the demolition of the Pleasant View building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In summary, I am seeking the documents, contracts, studies, analyses, the 11-criteria evaluation grid, as well as the discussions, recommendations and conclusions of the demolition committee that reportedly led to the conclusion that the building should be demolished rather than renovated or that other alternatives should be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are now September 25. During a special council meeting, Ms. Gerrish stated that the administration was working very hard to provide me with the Pleasant View file. For the time being, I am still waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unfortunately, this is not a new problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the past three years, I have submitted approximately ten access-to-information requests to the North Hatley municipal administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For these requests, I did not receive a response from the administration within the general time limit provided by law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For two of these requests, I initiated proceedings before the Commission d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information in an effort to obtain documents sometimes as straightforward as a contract, including the contract concerning the management of watercraft by the company 4 Lacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In every case, I had to wait more than ten months. In one case, I waited <strong>15 months<\/strong> to receive answers concerning three documents related to acquired rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under these circumstances, it is difficult not to feel that the process discourages citizens rather than facilitates the exercise of their right of access to information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Results of my access-to-information requests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ici.radio-canada.ca\/nouvelle\/2177546\/north-hatley-acces-information-transparence?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Radio-Canada \u2014 North Hatley et l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/2026\/03\/19\/1-an-et-27-jours-pour-obtenir-un-document-public-a-north-hatley\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">1 an et 27 jours pour obtenir un document public \u00e0 North Hatley<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/2025\/10\/17\/acces-a-un-contrat-public-a-north-hatley-15-mois-et-1-000-plus-tard\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Acc\u00e8s \u00e0 un contrat public \u00e0 North Hatley : 15 mois et 1 000 $ plus tard<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/2025\/10\/16\/acces-a-linformation-a-north-hatley-le-parcours-du-combattant\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information \u00e0 North Hatley : le parcours du combattant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is the citizen getting the short end of the stick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is sometimes the impression I am left with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During my proceedings before the Commission d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information, several people may be involved: my lawyer when I choose to be represented, the Municipality\u2019s Director General, the Municipality\u2019s lawyer, as well as a representative of the Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you think about it, the citizen is the one who must devote their own time to the process while also contributing, directly or indirectly through taxes, to funding the institutions and public resources involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And here is what I find particularly revealing: <strong>in each of my cases that reached the Commission, I ultimately received the requested documents or answers on the very day of the meeting or within the following few days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my experience, after months of waiting, I therefore received the requested documents or answers when my cases reached the Commission, or in the days immediately following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My experience therefore leads me to encourage citizens who undertake such a process to see it through when necessary in order to fully exercise their <strong>right of access to information recognized by law<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One example: 15 months of waiting, then an answer the very same day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On October 16, 2025, I took part in proceedings before the Commission to obtain answers concerning three documents related to acquired rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During that meeting, the Municipality\u2019s lawyer stated that the Municipality\u2019s Director General had already prepared draft responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He then asked him when those responses would be provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Director General replied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cToday.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And indeed, after <strong>15 months of waiting<\/strong>, I received the answers that very same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This raises a very simple question: <strong>if it was possible to provide those answers that day, why did it take 15 months and proceedings before the Commission to obtain them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unfortunately, you have to be prepared to see the process through<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally speaking, my experience has taught me one thing: when a citizen submits an access-to-information request, they must be prepared to follow up on their file and, when necessary, use the remedies provided by law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otherwise, they may simply never obtain certain documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quebec\u2019s <strong>Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information<\/strong> establishes a process and time limits for responding to access requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a general rule, the person responsible for access has <strong>20 calendar days<\/strong> following receipt of the request to respond. Under certain circumstances provided for by law, this period may be extended by <strong>10 days<\/strong>, provided that the applicant is notified within the applicable time limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a public body fails to respond within the time limit provided by law, that failure to respond is considered a refusal. The citizen may then apply to the Commission d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information for a review of that decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important: an application for review must normally be filed within 30 days following the public body\u2019s decision or the expiry of the time limit available to the person responsible for access to respond.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process can be lengthy. It may take several months before a case progresses sufficiently for the requested documents to be obtained or for a hearing to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But my experience also demonstrates something important: <strong>seeing the process through can work.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A lack of response that raises questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another aspect particularly surprised me during my proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the cases I brought before the Commission, the Commission took steps to contact the municipal administration and, depending on the case, the mayor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To my knowledge, those efforts did not receive a response from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a municipal administration that should normally facilitate access to public documents and transparency toward its citizens, I find this situation concerning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Access to information should not become an obstacle course.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A citizen should not have to wait 10 or 15 months, initiate proceedings before the Commission and devote hours to a case simply to obtain a contract, authorization, study or document used to justify a municipal decision when that document is accessible under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Citizens fund their municipality. They should be able to understand the decisions made on their behalf and request access to the public documents used to support those decisions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when a decision as significant as the demolition of a public building is presented as being based on studies, analyses and specific criteria, it seems entirely legitimate to me for citizens to ask to see those documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is North Hatley the only place where this happens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For comparison, I recently submitted an access-to-information request to the <strong>Township of Hatley<\/strong> and received the requested document the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also submitted a request to the <strong>Township of Stanstead<\/strong>, and once again, the document was provided the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, I submitted a request to the <strong>Municipality of the Township of Potton<\/strong> and received a response a few days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obviously, my sample is limited and does not allow for broad conclusions about municipalities as a whole. Nevertheless, my personal experience is striking: <strong>North Hatley appears to stand out significantly from the other municipalities where I have made access-to-information requests.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This leads me to ask a very simple question: <strong>why does the North Hatley municipal administration not provide requested documents within a reasonable period of time, particularly when those documents can be disclosed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I do not appear to be the only person who has experienced this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the most recent election period, two of my colleagues also submitted access-to-information requests to the Municipality. According to what they told me, they never received a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, they did not pursue their cases to the end. As is the case for many citizens, pursuing the available remedies requires time, energy and perseverance that they simply could not devote to the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is precisely where the problem lies: <strong>access to information should not depend on a citizen\u2019s ability to spend months pursuing a document they have the right to request access to.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filing an application for review with the Commission d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rest assured: the process is free and can be handled remotely, from filing your application for review online to mediation, which can take place virtually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a written access request is refused or the public body fails to respond within the time limit provided by law, an application for review may be filed with the Commission d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The application can be submitted online, and <strong>you do not need to be represented by a lawyer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After an application for review has been filed, the Commission may offer the parties a <strong>confidential and voluntary mediation process<\/strong> in an effort to resolve the dispute amicably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my experience, this step can help resolve certain situations quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If no agreement is reached, the case may eventually proceed to a hearing before the Commission\u2019s administrative tribunal, where an administrative judge can decide the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also important to remember that the law imposes obligations on public bodies and provides for penalties in certain circumstances. However, the mere fact that a citizen files an application for review does not mean that a municipality will automatically be penalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Most importantly: keep track of your deadlines. If your request remains unanswered, do not wait indefinitely before exercising your right to seek review before the Commission.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under these circumstances, it is difficult not to feel that the process discourages citizens rather than facilitates the exercise of their right of access to information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On that note, food for thought!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On September 8, I submitted an access-to-information request to the Municipality of North Hatley seeking all documents related to the demolition of the Pleasant View building. In summary, I am seeking the documents, contracts, studies, analyses, the 11-criteria evaluation grid, as well as the discussions, recommendations and conclusions of the demolition committee that reportedly led [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-municipality-en","category-opinion-en-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Access to Information in North Hatley: Why Is It So Difficult to Obtain Public Documents?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In North Hatley, obtaining public documents can take months. 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