B.C.’s freedom-of-information system by the numbers

VANCOUVER – Some facts and figures about British Columbia’s freedom-of-information system:

— The total number of freedom-of-information requests for general records (a category that excludes requests for personal information) that were closed each fiscal year: 2010-11: 2,759; 2011-12: 3,162; 2012-13: 4,554.

— The proportion of general requests for which no records were found: 2010-11: 21 per cent; 2011-12: 25 per cent; 2012-13: 26 per cent; 2013-14 (year-to-date as of Dec. 31, 2013): 20 per cent.

— Requests to the premier’s office that found no records: 2010-11: 30 per cent; 2011-12: 45 per cent; 2012-13: 42 per cent; 2013-14 (year-to-date as of Dec. 31, 2013): 27 per cent.

— The ministries with the highest rates of requests that produced no records in the current fiscal year: Natural Gas Development (32 per cent);Advanced Education (28 per cent); Office of the Premier (27 per cent).

— Proportion of requests that resulted in either full or partial disclosure: 2010-2011: 51 per cent; 2011-2012: 54 per cent; 2012-2013: 57 per cent; 2013-2014 (as of Dec. 31): 62 per cent.