This is a very important question. I think people sometimes interpret the systemic delays in processes.... I had an RCMP request take five years recently. That was a record for me. FIPA often hears from people who interpret it this way: “There's something to hide. There's something sinister. There's no reason the government would withhold this information if everything was indeed above board.” Therefore, they jump to some conclusions about this.
My position is that typically there isn't necessarily some sinister or nefarious motive—although certainly these things can be weaponized—but rather that there's a lack of effectiveness in the system that creates backlogs and delays. People are free to interpret the reasons for that.
If someone is filing their very first request, as many of the people we work with do, since they're not frequent users, and they hit a brick wall with filing an access request and lose faith in the system, that can only amplify other concerns they have, legitimate or otherwise, around the functioning of our democracy.