Canada (Minister of National Revenue) v. Sherman

Canada (Minister of National Revenue) v. Sherman
Court (s) Database
Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date
2005-11-01
Neutral citation
2005 FCA 375
File numbers
A-611-04
Decision Content
Date: 20051101
Docket: A-611-04
Citation: 2005 FCA 375
CORAM: LINDEN J.A.
ROTHSTEIN J.A.
PELLETIER J.A.
BETWEEN:
MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE
Appellant
and
DAVID M. SHERMAN
Respondent
Heard at Toronto, Ontario, on November 1, 2005.
Judgment delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario, on November 1, 2005.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY: ROTHSTEIN J.A.
Date: 20051101
Docket: A-611-04
Citation: 2005 FCA 375
CORAM: LINDEN J.A.
ROTHSTEIN J.A.
PELLETIER J.A.
BETWEEN:
MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE
Appellant
and
DAVID M. SHERMAN
Respondent
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
(Delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario, on November 1, 2005)
ROTHSTEIN J.A.
[1] The Minister of National Revenue appeals a decision of the Federal Court under the Access to Information Act on the grounds that the Federal Court judge, in redacting a record to be released to the respondent, did not redact information that was not permitted to be released pursuant to the decision of this Court in Sherman v. M.N.R. (C.A.),[2003] 4 C.F. 865.
[2] In particular, the Minister relies on paragraph 39 of that decision which states in part:
... the amount of money collected on behalf of and remitted to the IRS is exempt from disclosure.
It appears that this figure was not redacted by the Federal Court judge and should have been.
[3] The record in question is not a document prepared for purposes of the access request. It contains other information that was not the subject of the respondent's request for information. The respondent says there is a presumption in favour of disclosure under the Act. That is true, but the process provided in the act must be followed. Disclosure of information must be preceded by a request. Since there was no request for the information it need not be disclosed.
[4] The appeal will be allowed and the record will be redacted in accordance with these reasons and released to the respondent. In the notice of appeal, the Minister requested that the respondent receive costs of the appeal. Accordingly, the respondent is awarded costs of $5,000, inclusive of fees, disbursements and GST.
"Marshall Rothstein"
J.A.
FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
DOCKET: A-611-04
STYLE OF CAUSE: MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE
Appellant
and
DAVID M. SHERMAN
Respondent
PLACE OF HEARING: TORONTO, ONTARIO
DATE OF HEARING: NOVEMBER 1, 2005
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
OF THE COURT BY: (LINDEN, ROTHSTEIN & PELLETIER JJ.A)
DELIVERED FROM THE
BENCH BY: ROTHSTEIN J.A.
APPEARANCES:
Mr. Eric Noble
Ms. Kandia Aird FOR THE APPELLANT
Mr. David M. Sherman FOR THE RESPONDENT
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
John H. Sims Q.C.
Deputy Attorney General
of Canada FOR THE APPELLANT
David M. Sherman
Toronto, Ontario FOR THE RESPONDENT