Stopping the erosion of access to information in Canada

The Information Commissioner’s recommendations to modernize the Access to Information Act

Gatineau, Quebec, March 31, 2015 ‒ Suzanne Legault, Information Commissioner of Canada, tabled a special report in Parliament today that proposes an in-depth reform of the Access to Information Act.

“There has been a steady erosion of access to information rights in Canada over the last 30 years” said Commissioner Legault. “Although the Act was intended to shine a light on government decisions, it has become a shield against transparency and has encouraged a culture of delay.”

The special report contains 85 recommendations that propose fundamental changes to the Act which would resolve recurring issues and strike the right balance for transparency.

Some of the key points contained in the report are aimed at creating a culture of openness by extending coverage of the Act to all branches of government, setting tighter timelines in the processing of requests, maximizing disclosure by ensuring that exemptions protect only what is strictly necessary, and strengthening the oversight of the access to information regime.

“Having a modern access to information law will facilitate the creation of a government culture that is open by default – a foundational commitment of the Government of Canada to the Open Government Partnership,” said Commissioner Legault. “It would also re-establish Canada’s position as a world leader in access to information.”

The special report is available on the OIC website.