The legislative scheme under the Access to Information Act provides for exemptions. As a general rule, there is a right to access to information, but there are some exemptions and exclusions to this right. For the time being, I am working specifically on exemptions. There are two types of exemptions, one of which is mandatory. Under section 13, which I mentioned earlier on, we could be dealing with documents obtained from other countries. Personal and commercial information could fall under mandatory exemptions. However, most exemptions under the act are discretionary.
In some cases, we must also examine if it could be injurious. Section 18, which was referred to in the committee's report, is a discretionary exemption involving injury. It is not enough to say that we are consulting this information. It must be injurious. There is also the discretionary power to disclose information or not, even if it falls under this request.
With respect to the legislative framework, I cannot say too much. If you want further information, that matter would fall within the purview of the Department of Justice.