{"id":15319,"date":"2016-09-14T17:11:10","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T21:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caj.ca\/?p=15319"},"modified":"2022-11-17T17:12:56","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T22:12:56","slug":"fix-canadas-broken-access-to-information-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caj.ca\/fr\/fix-canadas-broken-access-to-information-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Fix Canada’s broken access to information system"},"content":{"rendered":"

The deficit of trust between Canada\u2019s voters and its elected officials has never been higher, largely due to a breakdown in the system of accountability. Key to this is the fact that, after years of neglect, Canada\u2019s access to information system is in crisis. The undersigned organisations are calling on the main political parties in Canada to make concrete commitments to reform Canada\u2019s access to information system.<\/span><\/p>\n

A strong access to information system is vital to maintaining a healthy democracy. Elections depend on the ability of individuals to understand how government has performed and the background to policy decisions. Journalists and civil society rely on requests for information to monitor public bodies and to uncover malfeasance. Vital oversight functions are curtailed in the absence of an effective right to information system. The current system is failing Canadians.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our country deserves an open and accountable government. We call on all political parties to make a clear electoral promise to undertake a comprehensive process of consultation leading to reform of the Access to Information Act and to express specific support for the rapid adoption of the following four reforms after the election:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Strengthen the Information Commissioner: Grant the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) order-making power and expand the OIC\u2019s mandate to include promoting the right to information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Eliminate loopholes: Repeal all blanket exclusions from the Access to Information Act and amend the regime of exceptions so that they apply only where release of the information would pose a real risk of harm to a legitimate interest set out in the Act. Also, make all exceptions subject to an override, whereby information will be released if its disclosure is in the overall public interest.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Expand the scope of the Act: Extend the Access to Information Act to apply to all public authorities, including ministers\u2019 offices, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office and Cabinet, and other bodies which perform a public function or receive significant public funding.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Document decisions: Commit to requiring public officials to document and preserve records of their communications and decision-making, regardless of the medium of communication.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Canadians of all political stripes want honest and transparent government, and have spent decades waiting for a government willing to deliver it. We urge all parties to endorse these four reform commitments, and to support a comprehensive review of the Access to Information Act in the aftermath of the election.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Signed,<\/b><\/p>\n

    L\u2019Association des Journalistes Ind\u00e9pendants du Qu\u00e9bec (AJIQ)<\/span><\/p>\n

    BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)<\/span><\/p>\n

    BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Canadian Media Guild \/ CWA Canada<\/span><\/p>\n

    Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Centre for Social Justice<\/span><\/p>\n

    Evidence for Democracy<\/span><\/p>\n

    F\u00e9d\u00e9ration professionnelle des journalistes du Qu\u00e9bec (FPJQ)<\/span><\/p>\n

    Greenpeace Canada<\/span><\/p>\n

    International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lawyers\u2019 Rights Watch Canada<\/span><\/p>\n

    PEN Canada<\/span><\/p>\n

    Politics of Evidence Working Group<\/span><\/p>\n

    Newspapers Canada<\/span><\/p>\n

    OpenMedia<\/span><\/p>\n

    Our Right to Know<\/span><\/p>\n

    Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia<\/span><\/p>\n

    Voices-Voix<\/span><\/p>\n

    World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How has Canada\u2019s access to information system fallen by the wayside?<\/b><\/p>\n