Information Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
November 5, 2024
Ottawa, ON
(Check against delivery)
I am pleased to appear before you today in the context of my proposed reappointment as Information Commissioner of Canada.
Nearly seven years ago, I arrived before this committee with a deep desire to serve Canadians, a relentless focus on results, and a vision for how I intended to fulfill my role as an agent of Parliament.
I had four specific priorities:
- ensuring that the work of my office was open and transparent,
- improving collaboration with stakeholders to address barriers in the system,
- tackling the existing backlog of complaints, and
- preparing to implement legislative amendments to the Access to Information Act.
I am proud of my track record in each of these areas. My accomplishments are documented in the annual reports I have tabled, and in the background materials I have provided to you.
Under my leadership, the Office of the Information Commissioner is an employer of choice. The members of my team may operate in a challenging environment, but they truly love the work they do and they believe in the right of access. Our very high rate of retention and impressive employee survey results are the proof.
I have worked hard to improve the overall health of an access to information system, which has not been meeting its legislative purpose. Through my systemic investigations, I have put the spotlight on the root causes of issues. I have also met frequently with Ministers, senior departmental officials, management teams and employees. The goal of such meetings is always to promote culture change, to encourage better performance, and to facilitate compliance.
In terms of enforcement, whenever I have been able to resolve complaints without resorting to issuing orders, I have done so. But I have also not hesitated to spur institutions to action through my orders, and when necessary, through litigation in the courts.
I have also taken my role of providing advice to parliamentarians very seriously. I understand that we live in a time of societal and technological change. We are faced with obsolete systems, inadequate information management, and declining levels of trust in public institutions. So I have worked hard to be a dependable source of information and expertise in the field of access to information. I have done my utmost to provide a clear picture of the operations of my office, and a frank assessment of the state of the system. I have based my testimony on my observations, and the investigations my team has carried out.
I believe that my renewal would represent stability for my office, the ATIP community and Canadians, allowing me to continue to build on what I have accomplished so far. If I am given the honor to continue in this role, I will carry out my duties with the same determination and focus on results I have shown throughout my mandate.
I will be relentless in speaking out on the importance of transparency by default, and the role that every public servant must play in ensuring the rights of Canadians are respected. I have seen how fervently stakeholders advocate for a better system. But I’ve also seen how hard public servants in the ATIP trenches are trying to make this system work in the meantime. Those people have my support, and they need and deserve the support of their leaders in bringing about the necessary transformation.
The policy and legislative changes I have recommended are based on experience and endorsed by stakeholders. As the next review of the Act looms on the horizon, I will continue to press for these long-overdue improvements. They would contribute to making Canada the global leader in transparency that it should have always been.
In closing, my experiences as Commissioner have only deepened my profound commitment to the right of access to information. I know that I have been effective in upholding and advancing this right. That’s why I remain positive and hopeful for the future, and why I am prepared to continue to serve in this role.
Thank you – I would be happy to answer your questions.