Ontario’s access laws contain a “public interest override” provision that requires a public sector organization to “override” the application of certain exemptions, and disclose a record in situations where there is a compelling public interest in doing so that clearly outweighs the purpose of the exemption.
To help public sector organizations and the public understand the public interest override provision, and the requirement to disclose where a record reveals a grave environmental, health or safety hazard, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has published a fact sheet about information disclosures in the public interest.
Read the fact sheet at https://www.ipc.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/fs-access-public-interest-disclosure.pdf
