Access-to-Information Request
Why?
If you've checked our Web site but you can't find the document you need, you have the right, under the Loi sur l'accès aux documents des organismes publics et sur la protection des renseignements personnels, R.S.Q., chapter A-2.1 (also called the Access Act), to ask Hydro-Québec to send you a document that it holds in the conduct of its activities.
On what conditions?
The document you request must already exist. Hydro-Québec will not be able to meet a request if it involves the creation of a document; it will not perform calculations, prepare tables, write summaries or create computer programs to respond to a request.
The request must be sufficiently precise that the document can be identified and found. Hydro-Québec may help you in this respect, if need be.
Hydro-Québec has the right to limit access to certain content and so may refuse to disclose all or a portion of a document. Under the Act, requests for access to the following types of information may be denied:
- Technical, financial, commercial or scientific information whose disclosure could be detrimental to Hydro-Québec or have a serious adverse affect on its economic interests
- Financial, commercial or scientific information provided by a third party
- Personal information, unless the persons directly concerned consent to its release
- Information whose disclosure could hamper an investigation, a lawsuit or negotiations.
If any of these restrictions apply, Hydro-Québec may refuse to transmit the requested document or may delete certain passages from the document it releases. It shall specify such passages and justify the deletions. Hydro-Québec may also refuse access to a document in its entirety if the information to be deleted represents the substance of it. In all cases, Hydro-Québec is obliged to remove nominative information from a document.
Making a request
Who?
Any person is entitled to access Hydro-Québec's documents.
How?
Apply in writing by completing the appropriate form available on the Web site of the Commission d'accès à l'information and stating as precisely as possible the document you are seeking. We suggest you state the nature or the specific subject of the document requested. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to respond to your request if you ask us to provide all our documentation on a specific subject. Nor may you ask Hydro-Québec to research a subject and report to you on it.
To whom?
Send your request to one of the officers responsible for the Access Act:
- Marie-José Nadeau
Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Secretary General - Stella Leney
General Manager – Environment and Corporate Affairs
Where?
Hydro-Québec
75, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest, 20e étage
Montréal (Québec) H2Z 1A4
How much does it cost?
In principle there is no charge for access to documents. But if a request involves reproducing documents, audiocassettes, diskettes, computer tapes, microfilms or plans, reproduction fees may be charged. The Regulation made under the Act specifies an amount for each page photocopied and an hourly rate when transcription of computerized documents must be done manually. You will be informed in advance of the fees payable.
Processing the request
On receipt of your request, Hydro-Québec will send you a written notice stating the date on which the request was received and the prescribed period for responding to it.
Hydro-Québec is obliged to respond to your request within 20 days of receiving it. If the request cannot be processing without interfering with the company's normal operations, the period may be extended by no more than 10 days. You will be notified by mail, if necessary.
If you are not satisfied with Hydro-Québec's response, you may ask the Commission d'accès à l'information to review the decision.
Review of a decision
The request for a review must be made in writing within 30 days following the decision by Hydro-Québec.
