(2) Subject to subsection (3) and to section 13, where the
applicant has requested access by a particular method, access shall
be given by that method.
(3) Access by a particular method requested by an applicant
under subsection (2) may be refused, and shall given by another
method, where the method of access requested -
Deferral of access
(a)
would interfere unreasonably with the
operations of the public authority;
(b)
would be detrimental to the preservation of
the document;
(c)
having regard to the physical nature of the
document, would not be appropriate; or
(d)
would involve an infringement of copyright,
other than copyright owned by the
Government, subsisting in the document.
16.
(1) A public authority which receives a request for access to
a document under this Act may defer the provision of access to the
document until the happening of a particular event, including the
taking of an action required by law or an administrative action, or
until the expiration of a specified time, where it is reasonable to do
so in the public interest or having regard to normal and proper
administrative practices.
(2) Where the provision of access to a document is deferred
in accordance with subsection (1), the public authority shall, in
writing, inform the applicant of the reasons for the decision and
indicate the period for which the deferment will operate.
Refusal of access
before processing of
request
17.
A public authority dealing with a request may refuse to grant
access to a document relating to the request, without having caused
the processing of the request to have been undertaken (a)
if the public authority is satisfied that the
work involved in processing the request
would substantially and unreasonably
interfere with the normal operations of the
public authority; and
(b)
if, before refusing to provide the document on
the ground under paragraph (a), the public
authority has taken reasonable steps to assist
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