We realize that the departments sometimes face a sudden increase in the number of access to information requests, while the size of the team in charge of processing the requests does not necessarily increase accordingly. There is a fairly set number of people on the team in charge of responding to access to information requests. But there are times when, all of the sudden, they become overloaded with requests.
For example, in the wake of the accident in Lac-Mégantic, Transport Canada was inundated with access to information requests. Obviously, under such exceptional circumstances, the team in place does not have the means necessary to quickly meet the demand, despite all its efforts.
As for Library and Archives Canada, I encourage you to communicate directly with the relevant division in order to obtain more details. I take it that the delays are caused by a workload accumulation due to a period of increase in the volume of requests, and that the team in charge is working hard to get rid of the backlog and to get back to normal.
In 2012-2013, we observed an overall 27% reduction in the number of requests with processing times exceeding 121 days. Over the last 12 months, we have implemented a series of best practices and adjusted processes so that access to information divisions may meet all requests in a timely manner. We are working very hard on this.