The Federal Court has put an end to the Canada Revenue Agency's attempt to have Hydro Quebec hand over confidential information about its more than 300,000 business customers.
The Journal de Montreal says the CRA wanted the files as part of a broad-based income tax investigation.
The CRA told the court the information request was part of an "audit made in good faith" but Federal Court Judge Yvan Roy described it as an invasion of privacy and the investigation was more of a fishing expedition.
The CRA has until September 17 to appeal the decision.