Febuary 28, 2002

Information & Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
80 Bloor Street West  Suite 1700
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2V1

Dear Commissioner:

Re:  File Number: A-2002-00068  Unsuccessful or Limited Search
     for basic information on; Lot / Building Dimensions,
     City Serveyers Diagrams, Submited Contractors Plans
     or Building Permits for my request for information about;
     62, 62A, 70, 72A, 61 and 63 Ottawa Street between 1950 to 1960.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to write but I can see no alternative 
option available to locate this apparently mysterious information I'm 
looking for.  Not being perfect in social skills, my contact with both
Ms. Reilly and Ms. Brownrigg left me with an impression that my inquires
were either intrusive or unimportant and bothersome while they tried to 
help me.  I would be very grateful if you could help me out with this 
matter?
    
On Feb 13 2002, 3 permit copies were mailed to me along with the
(copy enclosed) decision letter.  Permit copies; #13823 MAY 9 1945,
#11533 JUN 24 1952 and #12108 AUG 28 1952, but no diagrams, no drawings
or plans, not even lot and building dimensions.  These 3 photo copies,
of the written permits, were poor quality (contrast adjustment) and not
even copied on the reverse side.  As you may notice the decision letter
is very unusually formal while not indicating when or how viewing of what
they found is available but clearly saying this is all they will find 
until I pay another $25.00.

On Feb 21 2002, 8 permit copies were mailed to me with no letter, but a 
blue post-it note was affixed that read; Additional information found by
Lorraine Brownrigg Records, Ottawa.  These inundating copies are;
100 Fleet St. #7207 AUG 31 1950, 104 Booth St. #19237 JAN 8 1955,
110 Booth St. #7565 OCT 3 1950, 146 Booth St. #7175 AUG 28 1950,
110 Broad St. #7565 OCT 3 1950, 177 Broad St. #12663 OCT 30 1952,
169 Broad St. #5790 APR 26 1950, 80 Ottawa St. #7587 OCT 4 1950,
all of which are Photo Copied On Both Sides and Completely Irrelevant to
my request and nowhere near the simple address numbers I asked for.  
I thought, why have a Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy 
Protection Act if you're going to send me everyone elses information?  
I will return these copies if you think it nessasary.  

When I selected the option, Examine Originals (on-site only), on my 
MFIPPA (copy enclosed) Application Form, I never thought I would have so
much trouble just to see the original permits.  After being told that 
the City isn't going to allow viewing anymore, or being told I would be 
charged $25.00 for this service, a few days later Ms. Brownrigg finally
gave me the OK to come down to view the old building permits.  She was 
reluctant to show me the original permits but after a wait she allowed 
me to view them while another man was present.  When I asked if I could
buy a color photo copy of #11533 JUN 28 1952, (dad's old permit to 
install a washroom) she said "NO".  It's 2002 but can't even buy a color
photo copy.  It looks like all these permits are being transfered to 
microfilm, so afterwards why couldn't I just have the old permit instead
of it probably being destroyed?  "What do they think I could do with 
this anyway?"  All I'm trying to do is trace an accurate account of my
fathers time in Ottawa so we can create a Memorial Web Site For Our 
Family to remember him by. My parents were the last ones to own this
property before expropriation so I would like to know more about 
parcels F-13-2 or 3410 and F-10-17 and the buildings that were on 
these lots.

Enclosed is a copy of a page from the 1956 Fire Plan from the 
City of Ottawa Archives which clearly shows my fathers property and 
building at that time.  Also, a photo book they have called; THE FLATS,
shows my fathers address as 70 Ottawa St. which is an error, but there 
would be no harm in checking it to.  After having similar problems at the
Ottawa Land Registry Office, and meeting a more experienced archivist the
second time around, we discovered that there are "Alternative Methods For
Searching Archives For Older Records" which will yield some positive 
results.  This is my written appeal so could we please take another look?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, 



John M. Bergeron
10-178 Nepean St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0B6

Tel: (613) 235-1577