Freedom of information - FAQ

How much does a request cost?

A non-refundable $5.00 application fee must be paid when submitting an access request. Additional fees may be charged under Section 57 of FIPPA for processing. If the OCS estimates that the fee for processing your request will be over $25.00, you will receive a Notice of Fee Estimate. Where the estimated fees are over $100.00, you will be required to pay a 50% deposit before the OCS proceeds with processing your request. Final fees are only calculated once your request is processed and will be communicated in the Notice of Decision. All fees must be paid before any records are released.

How will I know you’ve received my request?

You will receive an acknowledgement letter from the OCS indicating the date that your request was received for processing and the date by which the OCS will issue a Notice of Decision or inform you that additional time will be required to process your request.

Do you accept personal cheques and who should cheques be made payable to?

We do accept personal cheques. Application fee and processing fee payments should be made payable to the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation.

Do you accept credit card or electronic payments?

Not at this time.

How long will my request take to complete?

We will respond to your request within 30 calendar days of receipt of your completed request form and $5.00 application fee. Requests that involve a large volume or records, an extensive search or consultation with external third parties may be subject to time extensions. You will be notified in writing of any time extensions.

Is there any way to expedite my request?

No. The OCS always does its best to respond to requests as expediently as possible.

Will you send me the records electronically?

The OCS will not email records. However, we are able to provide them electronically on a USB if that is your preference. There is a fee of $10 for each USB. Please advise us of your preference for electronic records.