Section 15: Exemption of third party information

(1) A public institution shall deny an application for information that contains-
(a) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person or business where such trade secrets or information are proprietary, privileged or confidential, or where disclosure of such trade secrets or information may cause harm to the interests of the third party. Provided that nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as preventing a person or business from consenting to disclosure;
(b) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with the contractual or other negotiations of a third party; and
(c) proposal and bids for any contract, grants, or agreement, including information which if it were disclosed would frustrate procurement or give an advantage to any person
(2) A public institution shall, notwithstanding subsection (1), deny disclosure of a part of a record if that part contains the result or product of environmental testing carried out by or on behalf of a public institution.
(3) Where the public institution discloses information, or a part thereof, that contains the results of a product or environmental testing, the institution shall at the same time as the information or part thereof is disclosed provide the applicant with a written explanation of the methods used in conducting the test
(4) A public institution shall disclose any information described in subsection (1) of this section if that disclosure would be in the public interest as it relates to public health, public safety or protection of the environment and, if the public interest in the disclosure clearly outweighs in importance any financial loss or gain to, or prejudice to, the competitive position of or interference with contractual or other negotiation of a third party.