Primary document

Manitoba Ombudsman: MO-06061 Final Report (Refused Access Complaint, Partly Supported)

This Manitoba Ombudsman final report (Case MO-06061, issued April 30, 2025) examines a refused-access complaint under Manitoba’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) concerning records held by the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). The request sought communications from 2023, including internal emails and confirmation of a database search. The Ombudsman found the complaint to be partly supported, noting that additional responsive records were disclosed by WPS during the investigation after having been inadvertently omitted from the initial response. While the Ombudsman ultimately did not order re-disclosure of a specific email under section 13(1)(b), the report concluded that WPS did not reasonably exercise its discretion when relying on that provision. The report also assessed the adequacy of WPS’s record search and the application of exemptions related to solicitor-client privilege (s.27(1)(a)) and officer safety (s.25(1)(e)), finding those exemptions appropriately applied in this instance. The report is relevant as an independent oversight finding that documents deficiencies in access-to-information handling and record processing by WPS, while also demonstrating where exemptions were upheld, providing a nuanced, evidence-based view of police disclosure practices.