{"id":17023,"date":"2019-09-28T16:48:04","date_gmt":"2019-09-28T20:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caj.ca\/?p=17023"},"modified":"2023-07-04T16:53:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T20:53:06","slug":"caj-calls-for-overhaul-of-canadas-information-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caj.ca\/fr\/caj-calls-for-overhaul-of-canadas-information-law\/","title":{"rendered":"CAJ calls for overhaul of Canada’s information law"},"content":{"rendered":"

OTTAWA \/ Sept. 28, 2019 \/ CNW \u2014 As 2019 Right to Know Week falls in the middle of a federal campaign, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) calls on all federal parties, once again, to overhaul Canada\u2019s broken Access to Information law\u2014change that\u2019s been promised and undelivered for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a partisan issue,\u201d says Karyn Pugliese, president of the CAJ. \u201cFor decades we\u2019ve heard from experts and stakeholders who\u2019ve said that changes are desperately needed. The culture of secrecy firmly embedded in our public institutions cannot endure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, Canada\u2019s access law has been left largely untouched since 1983.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOver the years, as the way public officials exchange information has evolved dramatically\u2014and changed all aspects of public life\u2014the lack of progress across party lines is embarrassing,\u201d says Pugliese.<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada is painted as an international laggard in global freedom-of-information rankings, according to 2018 data provided by the Halifax-based <\/span>Centre for Law and Democracy<\/span><\/a>. Canada ranked 55th in the survey, outpaced by nations including Uganda, Yemen, and Pakistan.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2015, during the last federal campaign, the Trudeau Liberals campaigned on a platform that included promises to modernize Canada\u2019s access law and to expand the number of offices, including ministers\u2019 offices, that were subject to the Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, the CAJ\u2019s then-president Nick Taylor-Vaisey <\/span>testified before a House of Commons committee<\/span> on C-58. His testimony described how the legislation was marred by shortcomings. Pugliese later testified to the same effect at a Senate committee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping government information that\u2019s of vital public interest to Canadians under lock and key is not transparent,\u201d says Pugliese. \u201cThe sheer number of incomplete access requests made by journalists across this country is shocking.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline Menard, Canada\u2019s current information commissioner, is responsible for investigating how federal institutions handle access requests.\u00a0 She said last year that the number of complaints her office received has jumped 225 per cent over the last five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny progress simply boils down to a matter of political will,\u201d Pugliese says. \u201cCanada cannot afford to let another four years pass without action.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

CORRECTION:<\/b> An earlier version of this news release incorrectly claimed Bill C-58 never received Royal Assent. In fact, the bill passed into law on June 21. The CAJ regrets the error.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Canadian Association of Journalists is a professional organization with more than 700 members across Canada. The CAJ’s primary roles are public-interest advocacy work and professional development for its members.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

For more information contact:<\/b><\/p>\n

Karyn Pugliese, CAJ president<\/span><\/p>\n

karyn@caj.ca<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brent Jolly, CAJ vice-president<\/span><\/p>\n

289-387-3179<\/span><\/p>\n

brent@caj.ca<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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