Yes. We call it “deadline abuse”. Some departments, like the RCMP, don't even acknowledge the receipt of your request. There's no clock even ticking for some limbo requests. I think there's a reflexive mode in departments to automatically take the longest stretch that they can get away with because it just gives them more manoeuvring room, rather than working out exactly how long processing will actually take.
The Information Commissioner has come down on departments for this. The result is that requests from journalists in particular are just held in abeyance for months and months, sometimes years and years—as I've given some examples of—until the information is no longer embarrassing, dangerous or whatever.
Yes, it does indeed affect us.