Make freedom of information an election issue: The Sudbury Star - Editorial

Make freedom of information an election issue

Posted 22 hours ago

Canadians who want to see public information on file with the federal government will quickly learn two disturbing facts: Canada's access to information laws is weak, and even its flimsy requirements are often ignored by bureaucrats and their elected masters.

As a federal election approaches, that's an important flaw that should be on voters' minds.

Three years ago, then-information commissioner John Reid drafted an Open Government Act at the request of Parliament. It would have given Canadians the kind of guaranteed access to public documents that people in many other democracies already have. All parties endorsed the draft act.

During the 2006 election campaign, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives promised to adopt it if elected.

Two years later that hasn't happened. And a new report from the Canadian Association of Journalists confirms what is widely known, that Canada's 25-year-old Access to Information law allows the government to hide more information than it releases.

The Conservatives aren't alone in failing to follow through on their promise. Liberal governments under Jean Chretien and Paul Martin promised increased openess and transparency and then pulled the curtains tighter.

The framework for a modern, transparent system that would open government business to public scrutiny is sitting on a shelf in Ottawa. During this campaign, every party needs to be pressed for a commitment to adopt it.

 
 

Inserted from <http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1212965>