Sunday, May 31, 2009

Content of the RTKNS Letter to the Parties Competing in the Upcoming Nova Scotia Election

Flag Canada Nova ScotiaImage by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is asking all party leaders in this election campaign to address our concerns with the administration of our Freedom of Information legislation.

It is a good Act in its purpose (requiring total accountability) and its reach (government, municipalities, school boards, hospitals, universities, and colleges) but it’s the coalition’s view that costs attached to using the Act and the waiting times for responses discourage applicants from taking advantage of their rights under the Act.

The coalition proposes the following:


That the application fee be lowered to $5.00, where it once stood;

That fees for processing be lowered to $5.00 a half hour from $15.00.

That wait times be reduced (applicants have been known to wait eighteen months or more for a final decision);

That the Freedom of Information Review Office, like other independent oversight offices, report to the legislature thus removing any perception that the Office reports to the Department of Justice;

That the list in the appendix include all publicly funded agencies.

The coalition would appreciate a response within one week. Yours and the responses of the other leaders will be posted on our website: http://www.nsrighttoknow.ca/ .

We believe these changes will lead to a better informed electorate and larger voter turnouts.

Thank you
Darce Fardy
Founder and President of the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia

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Media and terrorism - civil society forum calls for substantial and effective review of anti-terror laws

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Reykjavik, 27th May 2009

Media and terrorism - civil society forum calls for substantial and effective review of anti-terror laws

We, members of the Forum on Anti-terrorism legislation and its impact on freedom of expression and information, welcome the commitment of Council of Europe member states to review the impact of anti-terror laws and measures on freedom of expression and media freedom.

There has been a rush to adopt anti-terror laws in the aftermath of 9/11, and this has undermined respect for human rights and the rule of law.

One worrying aspect of these laws has been the general extension of surveillance powers over citizens and their personal communications. We are particularly concerned about the shift of power to police and security agencies to monitor and intrude upon the professional activities of journalists and media, which seriously impedes their ability to report on matters of public interest.

We are also highly concerned that anti-terror laws have been poorly drafted, and the restrictions they have placed on the media and civil society have been arbitrary and open to abuse. These laws and their implementation by the state administration have compromised civil liberties and undermined respect for the rule of law. There is scant evidence that the increased security for which these laws were enacted has been achieved.

Yet there is clear evidence of the negative impact of counter-terror laws on freedom of expression and access to information, as well as instances of abuse and misuse of counter-terror laws, as revealed by reports commissioned by the Council of Europe and in the conclusions of Council of Europe conferences.

A particular feature of the recently enacted legislation is that the laws have been rarely used for the purposes for which they were ostensibly enacted. This brings into question the necessity of these laws and whether or not they were rational and proportionate for the purpose for which they were enacted. Instead they have resulted in censorship and self-censorship, to the detriment of society's right to be informed.

We reaffirm our belief that human rights must be central in the maintenance of democratic society and confirm our confidence in the Council of Europe as the guardian of human rights and justice in Europe.

We therefore welcome the call for a review at national level of all laws, regulations and practices that have been put into effect to counter terrorism and in the name of national security. To be meaningful and effective, this review should be:
- Urgent;
- Wide-ranging;
- Transparent and inclusive of all stakeholders including civil society and media groups and professionals;
- Completed within a clear deadline, and at the latest one year from now;
- Use existing Council of Europe standards on media freedom as the benchmark against which laws, regulations and practices are reviewed.

We call on all governments to act quickly to restore the public's confidence in security policies that will respect their rights.

Helen Darbishire, Access info
William Horsley, Association of European Journalists
Peter Noorlander, Media Legal Defence Initiative,
Aidan White, International Federation of Journalists
Prof William Bowring, Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute
Jon Silverman, University of Bedfordshire, UK
Dirk Voorhoof, Gent University
Hans Verploeg, Netherlands Association of Journalists

The Forum, meeting in Reykjavic in preparation for the ministerial conference, brought together 40 representatives of journalists', media, lawyers' and civil rights organisations.

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The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia Questions Parties of Committment to Mending FOI After the Upcoming Election

Flag Canada Nova ScotiaImage by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

The Right to Know Coalition has written to as many Nova Scotia election candidates as it could reach asking them for a committment to live up to the obligations placed on public bodies by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

A separate letter was sent to the three party leaders. They will appear on our website as they are received.

Darce Fardy
President
Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia


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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Preparations for a Lawsuit Slowly Extract Public Data -- Kansas Liberty

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansasliberty.com%2Fliberty-update-archive%2F2009%2F01jun%2Fextracting-public-data%2F
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Friday, May 29, 2009

Nova Scotia Liberals accuse Tories of hiking gas prices (Metro)

Nova Scotia Liberals accuse Tories of hiking gas prices

Paul McLeod
28 May 2009 02:35

The Liberals say the Conservative government has been deliberately setting higher gas prices to bring in more tax revenue, and they believe they have evidence to prove it.

Gas prices in Nova Scotia are set on a weekly basis through regulation. Documents obtained through freedom of information requests by the Liberals show the Service Nova Scotia minister picks one price out of three options.

In every case, the two options not picked are blacked out because they are deemed to be advice to the minister, which is exempt from freedom of information laws.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said the documents show the Tories were picking the more expensive option.

"This government is clearly picking the highest option," he said. "If they weren't, why wouldn't they release it? Why would they hide information that would prove to Nova Scotians that they were giving them a deal?"


FULL ARTICLE


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Media groups seek access to terrorism evidence

Media groups seek access to terrorism evidence

ATLANTA (AP) — News organizations asked a federal judge on Thursday to grant the media access to copies of audio and video court records key to the upcoming trial against a terrorism suspect.

The motion seeks access to about 12 hours of an audiotaped FBI interview with Syed Haris Ahmed, who is set to go on trial Monday on charges that he aided a terrorist group.

It also seeks videos that prosecutors say he and another suspect filmed of potential terrorist targets in Washington.

"The public is entitled to understand the basis for the government's prosecution of Defendant Ahmed, and these audio and video exhibits are essential to properly appreciate the evidence in this case," wrote Thomas Clyde, an attorney who represents The Associated Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CNN and WSB-TV.

FULL ARTICLE 

'A fine line' of open government | Culpeper Star-Exponent

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.starexponent.com%2Fcse%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Farticle%2Fa_fine_line_of_open_government%2F36515%2F
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Government Transparency, Taxation [Mackinac Center]

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Northwest Herald | Illinois Lawmakers pass stronger public access law

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwherald.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F05%2F28%2Fr_yndn0qsmqoadmobfs3fioq%2Findex.xml
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The FOI Advocate: UA professor, FOI advocate honored

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffoiadvocate.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fua-professor-foi-advocate-honored.html
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Thursday, May 28, 2009

White House Launching Transparency Blog -- Government Blogs -- InformationWeek

http://mobile.informationweek.com/device/article.php?mid=33&CALL_URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationweek.com%2Fnews%2Fgovernment%2Ffederal%2FshowArticle.jhtml%3FarticleID%3D217700662%26subSection%3DSecurity
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Government Wrestles With Social Media Records Retention Policies -- Records Administration

http://mobile.informationweek.com/device/article.php?mid=33&CALL_URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationweek.com%2Fnews%2Fgovernment%2Fpolicy%2FshowArticle.jhtml%3FarticleID%3D217700689%26subSection%3DSecurity
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House approves rewrite of FOIA law - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

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Expenses: The drive toward deeper disclosure | In-depth | Broadcast

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UK Freedom of Information Blog: BBC R4 The Report on FOI and MPs' expenses

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Secrecy alive in Canberra - Tim Lester

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Review of Government Secrecy Ordered (Washington Post)

http://twp.com/detail.jsp?key=392257&rc=to&p=1&all=1
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UK Freedom of Information Blog: FOI Disclosure Stories 18 - 24 May 2009

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Politics plays part in setting gas prices, McNeil says

Politics plays part in setting gas prices, McNeil says



The vagaries of how the MacDonald government sets gas prices had the Liberals accusing the Tories Wednesday of letting politics play a part.

At issue were documents the Liberals received under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. They showed that the Service Nova Scotia minister picks a price from three options that staff presents to him.

» Click here for more election coverage

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said that runs counter to past government explanations that the price is set through a formula using the New York Harbour spot price for gasoline, then adding margins and taxes.

"Any formula that I know would set one price, not three," Mr. McNeil said while campaigning in Guysborough County.

"This is clearly political interference when it comes to setting the price of gas and it's a flawed system."

The documents the Liberals received included copies of the three price options the minister was given. Two of the options – the ones that weren't picked – were blacked out because they were considered advice to the minister, an exemption under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

FULL ARTICLE 

BBC - Open Secrets: Paying tax for FOI

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Write Thinking: Journalists thwarted by FoI delays

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Launch of the Irish Information Commissioner's Annual Report 2008 - press release

Date Released: 28.04.2009

http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/MediaandSpeeches/PressReleases/2009/Name,9975,en.htm

The Information Commissioner, Emily O'Reilly, today (28th April 2009) published her Annual Report for 2008.  It is the eleventh report since the founding of the Office in 1998.

The Commissioner announced that the overall number of FOI requests to public bodies in 2008 had increased , 12,672 - up 18% on 2007 figure, the first increase since 2005. This significant increase occurred in a year when no new public bodies were brought within the scope of the FOI Act. The growth in requests for non-personal information is reflected in increases in the number of requests received by the Department of Finance, Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment (Chapter 1).

The Commissioner emphasised the role of the FOI Act in changing the social contract between the public service and the public from one of secrecy governed by the Official Secrets Act to one of openness. Her impression is that the type of information being sought reflects a more thoughtful usage of the FOI Act and its application as a tool to help ensure proper accountability in public administration. The increased usage of FOI by journalists (15% of all FOI requests in 2008 as compared with 8% in 2007) suggests that its value in helping to promote transparency and accountability within the public service. An obvious example of this is the extent to which the release of information under the FOI Act contributed to the putting into the public domain of practices at FÁS, the State Training and Employment Authority.

The Commissioner noted a sharp increase in public demand for transparency and accountability, particularly within public service and financial institutions. She suggests (Chapter 2) that this may be a by-product of the financial downturn. As the public sees the financial gains of the past decade slipping away, there is a demand to know how the turnabout took place and how various public and private institutions behaved both during the boom and after it. The Commissioner said "This new thirst for information should cue a re-evaluation of the role of FOI in holding such institutions to account. I have noted before how many of the state institutions are outside the scope of FOI including the Central Bank and Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland, the National Treasury Management Agency, the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission and the State Claims Agency. I have also commented before on the secrecy provisions which are contained in the legislation establishing a number of public bodies and which, by virtue of the provision not being included in the Third Schedule to the FOI Act, are outside the scope of the FOI Act."

Over the eleven years of FOI in Ireland, almost 140,000 requests for access to information were made to public bodies. Broadly speaking, 50% of those requests were granted in full and a further 23% were partially granted. In all, over 70% of requests were granted to some extent. In the area of personal information, some 85,000 people have sought access to information held about them and/or their families by hospitals, Government departments, local authorities, third level colleges and other public bodies. Emily O 'Reilly highlighted the proceedings at the FOI 10th Anniversary Conference hosted by her Office in May 2008 which looked at the experience of FOI to date and at the challenges ahead. The impact of the first decade of FOI in Ireland is explored in the publication "Freedom of Information - the First Decade" available at www.oic.ie.

Commenting on the role of settlements and withdrawals in achieving a satisfactory outcome for FOI requesters, the Commissioner gives examples of solutions which emerged through mediation/negotiation facilitated by her Office without the necessity to issue a formal decision on reviews (Chapter 2).

Decisions

Chapter 3 of the report contains summaries of four decisions issued by the Commissioner during 2008:

  • RTÉ and a County Council - Case 080050 deals with the provision of the FOI Act which allows a public body to neither confirm or deny the existence of the record requested in circumstances where confirming that the information exists would, in itself, disclose personal information,
  • Mr. X and Galway County Council - Case 070290 focuses on the failure of a public body to locate records in circumstances where one would expect records to have been created due to statutory requirements
  • Two decisions (Mr. X and the HSE - Case 060320 and Mr. X and a County Council - Case 060130) cover issues arising from requests for access to investigation reports including the application of the public interest balancing test in relation to the handling of a complaint and a claim of an expectation of confidence by those participating in an investigation.

Statistics

The number of FOI requests made to public bodies in 2008 was 12,672. This is an increase of 18% over the 2007 figure (10,704) and 7% over 2006 (11,804) (page 11). The number of decisions made by public bodies which were appealed to the Information Commissioner during 2007 totalled 304 which represents a decrease of 49 cases, or 14% on 2007. Of these, 228 were accepted for review (page 14).

There were 8,229 requests for personal information in 2008; this represents an increase of 9% on 2007. The majority of requests were made by ordinary members of the public or representative organisations (73%), while journalists (15%), business (6%), staff of public bodies (5%), and members of the Oireachtas (1%) make up the other categories of requester. The percentage of requests made by journalists is up to 15% from 8% in 2007. In 2001, 20% of FOI requests were made by journalists. The large decrease observed in requests to the three key Government Departments since the introduction of "up-front" fees in 2003 has been halted.

The number of requests to the Department of Finance for 2008 shows an increase of 131% over the period since 2004 with an increase of 84% for the Department of the Taoiseach and 37% for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment over the same period.

The figures for 2008 indicate that the pattern of lower release rates for the Civil Service is continuing, but that the gap between it and other sectors has narrowed. The statistics show that the Civil Service is less likely to grant full release to records than other public bodies. In 2008 full release was granted in 36% of Civil Service cases, compared to 54 % for local authorities; 70% for the HSE, 48% at third-level institutions; 70% at voluntary hospitals/mental health agencies/voluntary bodies, and 55% at other bodies. The Civil Service figure is close to the 35% recorded for 2007. The Commissioner notes a significant reduction in release rates in the third-level institutions which, at 48% in 2008, are down from 58% in 2007 and 64% in 2006.

Commissioner for Environmental Information

Part II of the Commissioner's Annual Report for 2008 relates to her separate role as Commissioner for Environmental Information. It focuses on decisions made by her office on appeals under the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations 2007 which is a separate statutory code from that which operates under FOI.

Chapter 1 outlines of the AIE regime and the activities of the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information during 2008 including appeals received and decisions issued. The Commissioner points to the relatively low level of activity in this area and the lack of awareness generally about the right of access to environmental information under the AIE Regulation and Directive EC/2003/4. She said "It is vital that the staff of public authorities have sufficient training to give out accurate information to allow users of the Regulations to exercise their rights, including informing requesters of their rights of internal review and external appeal and the timeframes in which such appeals must be made."

In Chapter 2, the Commissioner reports on her decisions issued in 2008, viz.

  • Open Focus & Sligo County Council (Case CEI/07/0006) concerning a charge made for the supply of environmental information about proposed wastewater and sewage treatment plants,
  • Hill of Allen Action Group & Kildare County Council (Case CEI/08/0001) concerning a request for information on planning and enforcement matters involving a quarry,
  • Mr. Gary Fitzgerald & the Department of the Taoiseach (Case CEI/07/0005) concerning a request for information comprising what was said at Cabinet about Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. Note: this case is the subject of a High Court appeal and Judicial Review proceedings
  • Peter Sweetman & Associates & the Courts Service (Case CEI/08/0005) concerning environmental information in Court records; whether the Courts Service comes within the definition of "public authority" for purposes of the AIE Regulations and whether the Courts Service was acting in a judicial capacity in relation to the information sought.

The 2008 Annual Report is available on the Commissioner's website at www.oic.ie or a copy may be requested by telephone - (01) 639 5689.

End

Further Information on Report, contact:

Liz Dolan, Senior Investigator - 01 6395680;  Email elizabeth_dolan@oic.gov.ie

Marie O'Brien, Investigator - 01 - 6395651;  Email marie_o'brien@oic.gov.ie

For media enquiries, contact:

David Glynn, Head of Communications & Research - 01 6395714 / 087 236 1884

Email: david_glynn@ombudsman.gov.ie

Further Information: David Glynn, Director, Communications & Research Unit - 01 6395714; david_glynn@ombudsman.gov.ie

Monday, May 25, 2009

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Wins CAJ Secrecy Award

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Wins CAJ Secrecy Award

    VANCOUVER, May 23 /CNW/ - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has won the Canadian Association of Journalists' Code of Silence Award for 2008 for its dizzying efforts to stop the public from learning details of fatal failures in food safety.     "The judges were sick with awe at the intestinal fortitude the Canadian Food Inspection Agency gatekeepers have shown," said CAJ President Mary Agnes Welch. "It was clear that the CFIA's guard dogs found something they can really sink their teeth into."     The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has delayed and extended, ad nauseam, requests related to the Listeria outbreak that killed 22 Canadians and triggered hundreds - perhaps thousands - of illnesses.     Requests filed for inspections records on the Toronto-area Maple Leaf plant at the centre of the outbreak took nine months to produce and communication records with the company are still embroiled in delays.     For one of the biggest public health issues to face Canada in recent years, details behind the cause of the outbreak, the apparent delay in warning Canadians and the agency's handling of the aftermath remain filled with unanswered questions.

FULL ARTICLE  

Judge Reviews Whether Closed CSU Meeting Broke Open Meeting Law

Judge Reviews Whether Closed CSU Meeting Broke Law

Denver Post
5/22/2009

A judge will review an audio tape of a Colorado State University board meeting to determine whether members broke the law by meeting in private when they chose a finalist for the CSU chancellor's job.

Larimer County District Judge Stephen Schapanski said Thursday the CSU Board of Governors' own explanation of the May 5 session "certainly raises a reasonable belief" that it violated the state open meeting law.

FULL ARTICLE 


Saturday, May 23, 2009

White House Rolls Out Web Site, Initiatives to Boost Transparency

http://twp.com/news.jsp?key=390112&rc=tech
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Friday, May 22, 2009

Vancouver (finally) releases secret report on schools - Report Card

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunities.canada.com%2Fvancouversun%2Fblogs%2Freportcard%2Farchive%2F2009%2F05%2F21%2Fvancouver-releases-facility-report.aspx
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FOI reveals over 345 Vancouver police staff now in $100K+ club - CityCaucus.com

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HM Treasury refuses FOI stress test data

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The Sault Star - Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. has been ordered to respond to a Freedom of Information

http://m.saultstar.com/article.aspx?a=1579250
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edgemy >> FOI is a collective responsibility. (podcast)

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Falling foul of FoI | Blog | Health Service Journal

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All Seeing Eye: Things You May Not Know About the BBC

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Privacy.org - White House Seeks Input on Federal Government Transparency

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fprivacy.org%2Farchives%2F002838.html
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Proactive Disclosure: Vancouver to share city data online

Vancouver to share data online

JEFF HODSON
METRO VANCOUVER
May 22, 2009 5:56 a.m.

Vancouver is doffing its drapes and will become an information open house.


Councillors voted Thursday to freely share city data online (respecting privacy and security concerns) in document formats that most people would be able to open on their home computers.

"People pay for us to collect data, so we should make it available," said Vision Coun. Andrea Reimer, who brought the motion forward.


FULL ARTICLE 


Thanks to CBC Spark for point this out on Twitter!

CBC Spark Talking to @AndreaReimer (current Vision Vancouver city councillor) later today

Quote of the Day

"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."

Thursday, May 21, 2009

US Data.gov is now online

The purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.

As a priority Open Government Initiative for President Obama's administration, Data.gov increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets. The data catalogs will continue to grow as datasets are added. Federal, Executive Branch data are included in the first version of Data.gov.

Participatory Democracy

Public participation and collaboration will be one of the keys to the success of Data.gov. Data.gov enables the public to participate in government by providing downloadable Federal datasets to build applications, conduct analyses, and perform research. Data.gov will continue to improve based on feedback, comments, and recommendations from the public and therefore we encourage individuals to suggest datasets they'd like to see, rate and comment on current datasets, and suggest ways to improve the site.

Goal

A primary goal of Data.gov is to improve access to Federal data and expand creative use of those data beyond the walls of government by encouraging innovative ideas (e.g., web applications). Data.gov strives to make government more transparent and is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. The openness derived from Data.gov will strengthen our Nation's democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.


FULL ARTICLE 

Right to Know Coalition of NS Volunteer Opportunity - PR Student

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009

Volunteer Opportunity

Our non-profit organization promoting openness and accountbility in government is looking for younger members who may be in a position to offer us new ideas on how to fulfill our mandate and to help us do it. We are particularly interested in having a volunteer who is studying public relations and may feel that promoting our work and getting some experience at the same time may be good for us and the volunteer.

The volunteer work would not be onerous. In fact I think it would be an enjoyable experience.

If you find any student interested would you please lead them to our website (see below). I'd be pleased to talk to anyone interested.

Regards
Darce Fardy
Darce FardyPresidentRight to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
(902) 422-1481 darce@eastlink.ca
www.nsrighttoknow.ca
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BBC board members' expenses to be made public

BBCBBC via last.fm

BBC board members' expenses to be made public

But corporation denies release of information is a response to MPs' expenses outrage. By Mark Sweney

The BBC is to publish the details of expenses of executive board members, including the director general, Mark Thompson, as part of moves to make the corporation more open and accountable.

From October the BBC will make public the expenses of Thompson and the other eight members of the BBC executive board, as well as the corporation's non-executive directors, every six months.


FULL ARTICLE

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

FOI boost for the Middle East << Developing Access

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdevelopingaccess.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Ffoi-boost-for-middle-east%2F
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Michael Geist launches new Access-To-Info site

This is great news. Well done Michael Geist!!

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/22041
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Martin resigns as Commons speaker - Top Stories - FT.com

http://m.ft.com/cms/s/f31e1582-445f-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0.html
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White House Wins Court Fight on Email Disclosure

White House Wins Court Fight on Email Disclosure

MAY 19, 2009, 12:51 P.M. ET

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the office that has records about millions of possibly missing emails from the Bush White House doesn't have to make them public...


Case Report – NSCA opines on meaning of “educational history” in FOI law

Case Report – NSCA opines on meaning of "educational history" in FOI law

May 16, 2009 · 1 Comment

On May 14th, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal affirmed a chambers judge's finding that a list of names of over 4,000 certified electricians was not exempt from public access. In doing so, it held that the list's disclosure was not presumed to be an unreasonable invasion of privacy as a disclosure of information that "relates to educational history"

FULL ARTICLE 

Café Canada film explores erosion of democracy - Bridgewater,NS

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsouthshorenow.ca%2Farchives%2F2009%2F051909%2Farts%2Findex004.php
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Open government in the EU | Tony Bunyan |guardian.co.uk

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fcommentisfree%2Flibertycentral%2F2009%2Fmay%2F20%2Ffreedomofinformation-eu
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Revised FOI Act would add penalties - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pjstar.com%2Fnews%2Fx72362737%2FRevised-FOI-Act-would-add-penalties
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UK Freedom of Information Blog: FOI survey launched for voluntary organisations and campaign groups

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffoia.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Ffoi-survey-launched-for-voluntary.html
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Selangor to be first to have freedom of information law

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthestar.com.my%2Fnews%2Fstory.asp%3Ffile%3D%2F2009%2F5%2F20%2Fnation%2F3941763%26sec%3Dnation
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DARCE FARDY ON THE CARTER CENTER: “AMERICA’S REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION”: April 28-30, 2009



DARCE FARDY ON THE CARTER CENTER:

“AMERICA’S REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION”: April 28-30, 2009



From left: Darce Fardy – President of the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia, Jim Bronskill of the Canadian Press, former US President Jimmy Carter, and David Gollob of the Canadian Newspaper Association. Photo Credit: Brent N. Fuller, Cayman Free Press, brent@cfp.ky


For anyone interested in government openness and accountability, Lima, Peru was the place to be. Organized by the Carter Center advocates and government representatives from North and South America to exchange ideas on how best to 'establish the next steps in ensuring universal access to information'.


The Carter Center promoting human rights around the world, was established by the former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, when he left office. One of its main projects this year was to gather access to information advocates from Latin America, the United States, and Canada at a conference in Lima, Peru.

The conference was organized in collaboration with the Organization of American States (of which Canada is a member); the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas and; Commision Andina de Juristas,

The Prime Minister of Peru, Yehude Simon, opened the conference and President Carter spoke at a plenary session.

115 participants from 18 countries represented governments, civil society organizations, international bodies and financial institutions, donor agencies and foundations, the private sector and the media. Those attending from Canada were Suzanne Legault, Canada’s Assistant Information Commissioner; Jim Bronskill of Canadian Press; David Gollob of the Canadian Newspaper Association and me as founder and President of the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia. (In his speech to the plenary session, former President Carter welcomed delegates “all the way from Nova Scotia to Argentina”.)

The mission of the conference was to develop a plan of action for “the Advancement of the Right of Access to Information”. Recognizing that access to information is a fundamental human right, it was noted that throughout the Americas citizens chronically lack confidence in the political system and that the lack of transparency of governments is the cause.

This was particularly applicable to Canada where low voter turnouts are seen as a threat to democracy. Almost half of the eligible voters bothered to cast ballots in this year’s provincial election in British Columbia. The same is happening in most if not all provinces and territories and particularly at the federal level. There are likely other causes for this civic disengagement in the political system in Canada but there should no doubt that governments are failing to involve citizens in the decision making process.

In advance of the conference those attending were invited to meet with representatives of the World Bank which was meeting at the same time. The World Bank is in the process of adopting an access to information policy for its member countries and wanted the views of those of us attending the access to information conference. A suggestion that under the Bank’s proposal appeals of decisions would be handled by a senior officer of Bank concerned many of us who pointed out that such an arrangement would do considerable harm to the integrity of any access to information policy. Concern was also expressed that some information held by the World Bank would not be subject to the access to information policy.

The conference broke into five working groups to consider the various issues that arise when discussing access to information legislation. The group I participated in discussed an issue that our Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is wrestling with: how to make more people aware of their rights to information and how to encourage more of them to use the Act.

Other working groups discussed advancing openness; creating an environment for transparency and; the roles and responsibilities of governments, advocacy groups, and citizens.

Although Canada’s position, with Freedom of Information Acts in all the provinces and territories as well as at the federal level may be envied, Canada’s Acts also suffer from neglect by those in power. It seems even politicians who promote freedom of information legislation during election campaigns lose their enthusiasm for it when or if they get into power.

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Those who promote or use the federal Access to Information Act (ATI) believe it’s broken, despite promises made in a recent federal election campaign to make accountability and openness in government a priority.

In Nova Scotia, where the Act has a strong and clear purpose (requiring government to be “fully accountable”) and its reach is wide ( municipalities, regional development authorities, universities, school boards and hospitals) high costs and long waiting times discourage citizens. Applicants have faced costs of over a thousand dollars and others have had to wait for as long as eighteen months for a resolution.