Steps in making a federal access- to-information request

Federal access-to-information requests are sent directly to the departments involved. Applications are available at infosource .gc.ca /Info _4/atip/Request-Frms_e.html. Here are the steps needed to make most of them:

· Identify the target department and ensure that it is the correct one. For example, is Health Canada the agency responsible for developing Canada's Food Guide?

· Ask for specific records relating to a specific time period. What submissions were made concerning Canada's Food Guide in April and May? Were internal studies conducted? Focus groups? What costs were involved?

· File your request (this costs $5) AND indicate that you want to be contacted when the request is received.

· Be persistent and monitor progress. Has the department gone to the appropriate branches? What's delaying the response? Why are the fees so high? Keep a log of the service you receive.

· Check what's been received. Why is correspondence from the food industry missing? The exemptions that prevented the release of documents on policy advice and commercial confidentiality need an explanation.

· Review whether you need to appeal. If crucial data are withheld, seek help from the federal information commissioner.

· Don't stop there. Ask for further details, and then publicize the information you have received — or the failure of the department to provide it.