Access to Information Committee Decision on Appeal Case Number AI9209 : Numerical Values for the Data Heat Map 2020-2023

Overview & Synopsis

This document details the Access to Information Committee (AIC) Decision on appeal number 99, concerning a request for numerical values underpinning the Data Heat Map for 2020-2023. The appeal, filed by a requester seeking the spreadsheets used to create the Heat Map, was ultimately dismissed. The AIC found that the requested information, including the methodology and underlying data for the Heat Map scores, is public and has been referred to as such in the Bank's response. Crucially, the AIC determined that there are no "numerical values" or "numerical analysis" that directly underlie the Heat Map's colors; instead, scores are categorical (1-4) and based on staff assessments linked to documents. The appeal was also dismissed due to untimeliness, as it was filed 78 days after the Bank's initial response, exceeding the 60-day deadline stipulated by the Bank's Policy on Access to Information. Furthermore, the AIC concluded that there was no denial of access to information, a prerequisite for filing an appeal. A key finding was that a download option bar for 2022 and 2023, which was inadvertently omitted, has since been added to the Heat Map webpage. The decision highlights the Bank's commitment to transparency while clarifying the nature of data representation in its Heat Maps and the procedural requirements for information appeals.