Maple News reports that Canada is taking a significant step toward transparency and global alignment by expanding access rights under its Privacy Act. For the first time, non-Canadians located outside of Canada will be permitted to submit Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests—an important policy shift published recently in the Canada Gazette.
Previously, only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals or entities located within Canada could file requests to access personal data or government-held information under the Privacy Act. This limitation was especially burdensome for foreign nationals seeking insight into their immigration cases, often requiring them to hire intermediaries based in Canada to submit ATIP requests on their behalf—a costly and time-consuming workaround.
This change will dramatically simplify that process. Beginning July 14, 2022, anyone—regardless of their location or status—will be able to directly access their immigration case files, including critical documents like Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes maintained by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
GCMS notes offer detailed insights into the reasoning behind decisions made by IRCC officers, including visa refusals or delays. For applicants, such transparency can be instrumental in identifying misunderstandings or procedural errors and forming the basis for appeals or reapplications.
According to Maple News, IRCC is currently the most common federal department targeted for ATIP requests in Canada. The change is expected to significantly increase the volume of incoming filings, prompting the government to delay enactment to ensure effective implementation across forms, procedures, and internal systems.
The one-year delay before the new rule takes effect underscores the magnitude of the change. It reflects the Canadian government’s commitment to making information access more inclusive, especially for the thousands of immigration hopefuls and applicants around the world relying on insight into their cases.
This development brings Canada’s practices in line with international standards and signals an encouraging move toward greater fairness, transparency, and accountability in its immigration system.