Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Government 2.0 and The Usual Suspects

Government 2.0 and The Usual Suspects

June 30th, 2009 · No Comments

Just yesterday I blogged about my skepticism that opening government data will fundamentally change the picture as far as citizen engagement and participation is concerned. I know there are differing opinions on the topic and I do agree that more data is better than less.

Earlier today I’ve come across an article from Nextgov about the sixth annual Personal Democracy Forum started on Monday in Manhattan, which “generally gave the Obama administration credit for moving the transparency ball forward” with Jeff Jarvis advocating transparency by default.

According to the article, a representative from the Sunlight Foundation stressed that private sector sites are improving very rapidly and the gap with government sites is widening.

Now, why do I have a sense of deja vu? Haven’t I heard these same remarks five or even ten years ago, when consultants, software vendors, system integrators were saying that government lags behind on its online presence?

http://blogs.gartner.com/andrea_dimaio/2009/06/30/government-20-and-the-usual-suspects/


An example of practical FOI use | FishSubsidy.org


http://fishsubsidy.org

Monday, June 29, 2009

Quotes from the Twitterverse :)

Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...Image via CrunchBase

As Heard on Twitter:

edyson
edyson #pdf09 @rasiej "Public" should mean online, intelligible, today... not on paper, in a drawer, some day. There oughta be a law!

Open Government
OpenGov Kick off your Monday morning by writing open government Transparency Principles http://bit.ly/sjGFr

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Jennifer Bell of VisibleGovernment.ca @ PDF09 (Personal Democracy Freedom)



Jennifer Bell
Executive Director, VisibleGovernment.ca

Jennifer is Executive Director of VisibleGovernment.ca, a non-profit that promotes online tools for government transparency in Canada.

Jennifer has a background in launching software start-ups. Prior to starting VisibleGovernment.ca, she was on the seed management team of Tungle, which was recently named one of Canada’s top web 2.0 startups to watch. Previously, she was a software developer, architect and product manager for Nimcat Networks, which was sold in 2005 for $43M. Jennifer has degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from McGill University.


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Sunday, June 28, 2009

NYC Council Gives Open Data a Hearing | Personal Democracy Forum

http://personaldemocracy.com/blog-entry/nyc-council-gives-open-data-hearing
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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Snaptu: The BBC's disclosures show the way on expenses

Under pressure from a freedom of information request, last week the BBC published details of top executives' pay and expenses claims. The salaries...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/28/bbc-expenses-media

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Snaptu: Power to the people! Great idea, Mr Brown, but how?

This week, the prime minister will promise to make public services more accountable and responsive to those who use them

Scandals and Speakers come...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/28/gordon-brown-building-britains-future

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Snaptu: The BBC's disclosures show the way on expenses

Under pressure from a freedom of information request, last week the BBC published details of top executives' pay and expenses claims. The salaries...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/28/bbc-expenses-media

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TheStar.com | Canada | PCO blinks, gives documents to information watchdog

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/657596
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Friday, June 26, 2009

Cayman Islands - Cay Compass News Online - FOI chief hits 'brick wall'

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caycompass.com%2Fcgi-bin%2FCFPnews.cgi%3FID%3D10383388
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Peter Black AM: The backlash against FOI

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpeterblack.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fbacklash-against-foi.html
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Audit Finds Greene County Towns Not Open About Public Records | KSPR News | Local News

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kspr.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F49105706.html
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Hampstead not alone in council minutes policy: mayor

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesuburbannews.ca%2Fcontent%2Fen%2F1874
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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Snaptu: Why some ministers and officials think freedom of information was a mistake

New report finds that Whitehall civil servants, special advisers and former ministers are strongly opposed to the way FoI is operating

After...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/jun/24/freedom-of-information

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Snaptu: Blooming ridiculous: MPs question new 'flower rule' for expenses claims

Members of parliament are complaining that under the new expenses rules failing to declare a bouquet of flowers will constitute a criminal...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/jun/25/mps-expenses-declaring-flowers

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Tory MPs pay back £125,000 more - BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/politics/811/81172/story8117234.wml
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BBC - Open Secrets: FOI and the BBC: The next round

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fopensecrets%2F2009%2F06%2Ffoi_and_the_bbc_the_next_round.html
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Monday, June 22, 2009

AFP: Scandal-hit British parliament elects new speaker

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ilRZ6s_4eOmStVbG8YRdkjBYMV8A
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Info commissioner cites personal reasons as he retires

Info Commish Marleau quits - not good for ATI reform

Canada's Access to Information system has never been healthy but it's in the worst shape I can ever remember it being in.

Information Commissioner Robert Marleau had put forward some important recommendations to help start fixing the system. A House of Commons committee is about to release its recommendations for reform. The current government campaigned on a commitment to ATI reform.

And then today, Marleau quit for "entirely personal and private" reasons. Suzanne Legault is his interim successor.

Marleau was not the crusader that John Reid, his predecessor, was, but he was trying to make things better. This is a setback for those looking to see the ATI system work better.

The press release:

Ottawa, June 22, 2009 — Canada's fourth and current Information Commissioner, Robert Marleau, announced today his retirement from public life effective June 29, 2009. In a letter to notify the Governor in Council of his decision, he explained that his reasons for doing so are entirely personal and of a private nature.

Mr. Marleau began his term on January 15, 2007. Before taking up the position, Mr. Marleau served Parliament for 31 years, 13 of them as Clerk of the House of Commons. He was interim Privacy Commissioner in 2003.

"I have enjoyed my tenure as Information Commissioner of Canada and I am quite satisfied that I leave the OIC a much better organization," said Mr. Marleau.

"From a management perspective," he added, "the new team in place is implementing a new business model to better serve Canadians, the funding of the Office has almost doubled and the financial and human resources management practices are now in step with modern governance and accountability principles and policies".

From a program perspective, Mr. Marleau is quite pleased to report that "the backlog inventory of cases in under control and will be eliminated by the end of the fiscal year; that the systemic report cards have been renewed and expended; and, that a strategy for legislative reform has been presented to the Standing Committee on Access, Privacy and Ethics and was largely supported by academics and professionals of access to information." The Standing Committee on Access, Privacy and Ethics has also endorsed the OIC recommendations in its eleventh report to the House of Commons tabled June 18.

While the search for a new Commissioner is on-going, Mr. Marleau recommended to the Governor in Council that Suzanne Legault, Assistant Commissioner, responsible for Policy, Communications and Operation be appointed Interim Commissioner. The Governor in Council accepted his recommendation.

Suzanne Legault was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada on June 18, 2007. Ms. Legault began her career in the Public Service in 1996 at the Competition Bureau, where she held increasingly senior positions, including Special Advisor to the Commissioner of Competition. She then served as Legal Counsel with the Department of Justice, before returning to the Competition Bureau where she was Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Legislative Affairs, then Deputy Commissioner, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs. During her tenure at the Competition Bureau she developed significant experience in investigations and policy development in key industry sectors. Prior to joining the Public Service, Ms. Legault practised law as a criminal defense lawyer and Crown prosecutor from 1991 to 1996. Ms. Legault holds a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Common Law from McGill Law School, which she obtained in 1988.


http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/onthehill/archive/2009/06/22/info-commish-marleau-quits-not-good-for-ati-reform.aspx



Info commissioner cites personal reasons as he retires

Updated Mon. Jun. 22 2009 12:29 PM ET

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA -- Information commissioner Robert Marleau is retiring after serving less than half of the usual seven-year term.

Marleau says his reasons for quitting are personal and private.

Suzanne Legault, an assistant commissioner, has been tabbed to fill in while the government seeks a permanent replacement.

Marleau, a former clerk of the Commons, took office in January 2007.

He is the fourth person to hold the commissioner's job since it was created in 1983.

In a news release he said he's satisfied that he has improved and streamlined the commission during his tenure.

 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090622/marleau_retires_090622/20090622?hub=Canada



Sunday, June 21, 2009

AP News : Expenses blackout: UK lawmakers' claims censored

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8588/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=t9akX6W7
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At least three councillors calling for more disclosure - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1128362.html
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MPs 'disingenuous' over expenses - BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/politics/811/81115/story8111506.wml
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MPs' expenses: Council tax claims row as leaders pledge clean sweep | Politics | The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/20/mps-expenses-council-tax-claims
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Friday, June 19, 2009

Slashdot | Newspaper Crowdsources 700,000-Page Investigation of MP Expenses

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.slashdot.org%2Fstory%2F09%2F06%2F19%2F0152259%2FNewspaper-Crowdsources-700000-Page-Investigation-of-MP-Expenses%3Ffrom%3Drss
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Times Higher Education - Companies use FoI Act to trawl for commercial opportunities

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeshighereducation.co.uk%2Fstory.asp%3Fsectioncode%3D26%26storycode%3D407019%26c%3D1
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Federal patronage paving rural N.S. roads, blogger finds - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Federal patronage paving rural N.S. roads, blogger finds
By STEPHEN MAHER Ottawa Bureau
Thu. Jun 18 - 4:46 AM

OTTAWA -- The federal Tories appear to be using infrastructure stimulus spending to reward Conservative ridings in Nova Scotia with hot tar, according to research by blogger Parker Donham.

The province submitted a list of rural paving projects to the federal government to get a piece of a $4-billion fund designed to stimulate the economy during the global recession.

On April 30, the two levels of government announced $55.8 million in projects. Mr. Donham, a former journalist, used the province's freedom of information law to get the list of projects that the province submitted for federal approval.

He found that the province had proposed 39 paving projects, but only 20 were approved. Of those, 10 were in Tory ridings and seven others were in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, which was represented by Independent Bill Casey until recently. A byelection in the traditionally Tory riding must be scheduled for the months ahead.

"Projects in ridings held by Conservative MPs were almost four times as likely to receive federal approval as those in Liberal-held ridings," wrote Mr. Donham on his blog, http://contrarian.ca.

Nova Scotia has a long tradition of winning rural votes with the judicious application of pavement.


FULL ARTICLE

BBC NEWS | MPs' expenses made public online

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2Fuk_news%2Fpolitics%2F8105227.stm
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Britain's unravelling - World - Macleans.ca

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.macleans.ca%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2Fbritain%25E2%2580%2599s-unravelling%2F
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Implementing Ghana`s RTIDon`t raise people`s expectations

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaian-chronicle.com%2Fthestory.asp%3Fid%3D12455%26title%3DImplementing%2520Ghana%2560s%2520RTI
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The Sault Star - EDC open to settling issue with Dalla Bono

http://m.saultstar.com/article.aspx?a=1620662
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Snowblog - Today's revelations will increase suspicion of MPs

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.channel4.com%2Fsnowblog%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2Ftodays-revelations-will-increase-suspicion-of-mps%2F
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BBC NEWS | Row over blacked out MP expenses

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2Fuk_news%2Fpolitics%2F8107922.stm
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NM&L (Spring 2009): The right to bare arms data

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcfp.org%2Fnews%2Fmag%2F33-2%2Fthe_right_to_bare_arms_data_15.html
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Transparency is censored in mockery of open government - Scotsman.com News

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.scotsman.com%2Fopinion%2FTransparency-is-censored-in-mockery.5381643.jp
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FoI might have exposed abuse, says Information Commissioner - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 19, 2009

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnewspaper%2Fireland%2F2009%2F0619%2F1224249121719.html
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Report findings on death, injury at Sask. job sites

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestarphoenix.com%2FReport%2Bfindings%2Bdeath%2Binjury%2BSask%2Bsites%2F1711526%2Fstory.html
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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Right to Know Coalition NS Notice of Annual General Meeting/ Teleconference

1801 Hollis Street, in the core of Downtown Ha...Image via Wikipedia

* * * * *

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING / TELECONFERENCE

Date / time: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 10:00 a.m.

Location (in-person participation): Suite 1800, 1801 Hollis Street, Halifax

Call in instructions (telephone participation): TBA

Agenda:

1. Annual report of the President

2. Annual financial report of the Treasurer

3. Other annual reports

4. Election of Directors

5. Election of Officers

6. Other business

Brian K. Awad

Secretary

* * * * *

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

BBC NEWS | MP 'claimed for own firm's flat'

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fgo%2Frss%2F-%2F2%2Fhi%2Fuk_news%2Fpolitics%2F8104349.stm
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Obama blocks list of visitors to White House

Obama blocks list of visitors to White House

Taking Bush's position, administration denies msnbc.com request for logs

Image: The White House

Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images file


By Bill Dedman
Investigative reporter
updated 10:05 a.m. ET June 16, 2009The Obama administration is fighting to block access to names of visitors to the White House, taking up the Bush administration argument that a president doesn't have to reveal who comes calling to influence policy decisions.FULL ARTICLE




Monday, June 15, 2009

Jon Slattery: KMG political editor uses FoI to reveal GBP109,000 cost of police raids on MP

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjonslattery.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fkmg-political-editor-uses-foi-to-reveal.html
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Rob Evans: FoI ruling against Guardian is 'outrageous' | The Wire | Press Gazette

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.pressgazette.co.uk%2Fwire%2F5212
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The Delaware Business Ledger - Markell signs open government bill

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledgerdelaware.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Fnews%2Fdoc4a359cfe48571105189861.txt
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Information Commissioner calls for instinctive culture of openness :: PublicTechnology.net

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.publictechnology.net%2Fmodules.php%3Fop%3Dmodload%26name%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D20349
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Leading E-Government Countries May Lag Behind On 2.0

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.gartner.com%2Fandrea_dimaio%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Fleading-e-government-countries-may-lag-behind-on-20%2F
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Personal Democracy Forum Conference | Personal Democracy Forum

http://www.personaldemocracy.com/conference
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SWSDA TO DISAPPEAR! - New entity required to be officially accountable, transparent, and more democratic

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009

SWSDA TO DISAPPEAR!
















SO SAYS... THE NEW DEPUTY MINISTER!

In a letter dated May 26, 2009 Mr. Ian Thompson the new Deputy Minister over at Economic and Rural Development (ERD)advises SWSDA and Municipal Members of SWSDA's Board that they must be incorporated under the Regional Communities Development Act passed into law twelve years ago in 1997 to receive future funding.

Are our MPs chisellers? We'll never know

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.canada.com%2Fmontrealgazette%2Ffeatures%2Fviewpoints%2Fstory.html%3Fid%3Da0339030-3d25-4bec-ad98-cbb67ca5d872
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Guardian loses Fol bid to name misbehaving judges - Press Gazette

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressgazette.co.uk%2Fstory.asp%3Fsectioncode%3D1%26storycode%3D43791%26c%3D1
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

TheStar.com | Opinion | Taxpayers have a right to see GM's spending

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Fopinion%2Farticle%2F650526
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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Slashdot | How Should a Constitution Protect Digital Rights?

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fask.slashdot.org%2Fstory%2F09%2F06%2F12%2F2011213%2FHow-Should-a-Constitution-Protect-Digital-Rights%3Ffrom%3Drss
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Brown adjusts FOI to allow greater secrecy for royals << Richard Craig's Blog

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Forichardcraigo.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F12%2Fbrown-adjusts-foi-to-allow-greater-secrecy-for-royals%2F
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UCL - The Constitution Unit - Freedom of Information & Data Protection Team - Conferences

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucl.ac.uk%2Fconstitution-unit%2Ffoidp%2Fevents%2Ffoilive2009.html
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The heart of Government is pretty much exempting itself from the Freedom of Information Act - Mail Online - Charlotte Leslie: Diary of a Tory Candidate

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fleslieblog.dailymail.co.uk%2F2009%2F06%2Fthe-heart-of-government-is-pretty-much-exempting-itself-from-the-freedom-of-information-act.html
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Council Subcommittee Held Secret Meetings - Complaint Filed << Brainflation

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainflation.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F12%2Fcouncil-subcommittee-held-secret-meetings-complaint-filed%2F
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Daily Kos: A Victory for Democracy and Open Government

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailykos.com%2Fstoryonly%2F2009%2F6%2F12%2F741837%2F-A-Victory-for-Democracy-and-Open-Government-%23
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Lawsuit prompted by secrecy of Epcor spinoff

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmontonjournal.com%2Fnews%2FLawsuit%2Bprompted%2Bsecrecy%2BEpcor%2Bspinoff%2F1688995%2Fstory.html
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West Virginia: Norquist: Limit spending, but not information

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herald-mail.com%2F%3Fcmd%3Ddisplaystory%26story_id%3D224950%26format%3Dhtml
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TheStar.com | Ontario | $2,700-a-day consultant billed you $1.65 for tea

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Farticle%2F643972
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A smelly $54m problem - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1127131.html
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Friday, June 12, 2009

Vancouver becomes role model for open source ( - Software - Government )

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.idg.no%2Fcw%2Fart.cfm%3Fid%3DD070E217-1A64-6A71-CEDD726274823209
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Check out iSolon.org: a policy institute committed democratic reform via new information technologies

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Prying open D.C. government Opinion Articles - Jonetta Rose Barras | Editorials on Top News Stories | Washington Examiner

Washington sightseeingImage by ®oberto's via Flickr

Prying open D.C. government


By: Jonetta Rose Barras
Examiner Columnist | 6/10/09 2:57 PM

Melissa Davenport will tell you that the recent controversy surrounding Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s unwillingness to disclose information about a variety of things, including the cost of his trip to Dubai, didn’t motivate the founding of the D.C. Open Government Coalition.

“Our effort is not pegged to any administration,” she told me earlier this week. “We happen to believe the best mechanism for holding the government accountable is openness.”



FULL ARTICLE
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BBC - Open Secrets: Government plans FOI restrictions

London ParliamentImage by firmatography via Flickr

Government plans FOI restrictions

Post categories: , ,

Martin Rosenbaum | 16:18 PM, Wednesday, 10 June 2009

The government is planning to introduce important new restrictions on access to cabinet and royal papers under freedom of information.

Under the new plans, cabinet papers would be absolutely exempt from FOI for a period of 20 years. This would include records relating to cabinet sub-committees.

This would be significantly tighter than the current position, where for most cabinet documents the decision on whether to release them depends on the "public interest test" - whether it is more in the public interest to disclose them in response to an FOI request or to keep them secret.



FULL ARTICLE
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Changes to UK document secrecy laws - Editors Weblog

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.editorsweblog.org%2Fnewspaper%2F2009%2F06%2Fchanges_to_uk_document_secrecy_laws.php
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Freedom of infomation has come of age | Richard Thomas | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fcommentisfree%2Flibertycentral%2F2009%2Fjun%2F11%2Frichard-thomas-information-commissioner
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video from 2008 - Heather Brooke, journalist and author of "Your Right to Know", gives her top five tips on getting results with the Freedom of Information Act

Heather Brooke, journalist and author of "Your Right to Know", gives her top five tips on getting results with the Freedom of Information Act

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Freedom of information? It's a state secret - Heather Brooke

Freedom of information? It's a state secret

Promises of more open government have been made before

Heather Brooke
From The Times
June 11, 2009


Heather Brooke

When it comes to politicians advocating open government the best advice is to ignore what they say and focus on what they do.

Yesterday, Gordon Brown used the dreaded word "transparency". I have been campaigning for five years on freedom of information and had to go to the High Court to force the disclosure of MPs' expenses, so it is with some satisfaction that I now hear the Prime Minister issuing statements about the need for open government that I couldn't have written better myself.

FULL ARTICLE

eGov monitor - A Policy Dialogue Platform | Promoting Better Governance

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.egovmonitor.com%2Fnode%2F25603
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

UK Council accepts FOI breaches but says it is committed to transparency


Council accepts FOI breaches but says it is committed to transparency

5:02pm Wednesday 10th June 2009



THE council has said it fully accepts it made "procedural failings" in the way it dealt with a resident's Freedom of Information request.

FULL ARTICLE

Web inventor to help Downing Street open up government data

Web inventor to help Downing Street open up government data


Charles Arthur
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 June 2009 14.07 BST

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, will help the British government to make its data more easily available online, Gordon Brown said today.

"So that government information is accessible and useful for the widest possible group of people, I have asked Sir Tim Berners-Lee who led the creation of the world wide web, to help us drive the opening up of access to Government data in the web over the coming month," the Prime Minister said in a statement about electoral and Parliamentary reform.

Sir Tim has been an eager proponent of better access to all forms of government and other data. In a talk to the TED conference in March, shown below, he said: "What you find if you deal with people in government departments is that they hug their database, hold it really close, so that they can build a beautiful website to present it.

"I would like to suggest: sure, make a beautiful website, but first, give us – all of us – the unadulterated data. We have to ask for raw data now."

UK Government cuts 30-year rule and looks to extend FoI

Government cuts 30-year rule and looks to extend FoI

10 June 2009
By Paul McNally, and PA Mediapoint

• 30-year-rule to be cut to 20 years
• Tim Berners-Lee to help open up government data online
• Freedom of Information could be extended

The length of time government records are kept secret is to be cut from 30 to 20 years as part of a series of reforms announced today.

Gordon Brown said today that he had asked internet guru Sir Tim Berners-Lee to "help us drive the opening up of access to government data on the web".

He also said that justice secretary Jack Straw was considering whether the scope of the Freedom of Information Act should be extended to further bodies which spend public money.

FULL ARTICLE

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

The Corruption of Britain - Forbes.com

http://mobile.forbes.com/device/article.php?CALL_URL=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0622/opinions-politics-britain-current-events.html?feed=rss_opinions
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TheStar.com | Canada | If Harper fixed his moat would we ever find out?

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Farticle%2F647640
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Bill Tieleman: BC Rail FOI requests turn up National Public Relations as advising BC Rail during privatization

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbilltieleman.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fbc-rail-foi-requests-turn-up-national.html
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Monday, June 08, 2009

DND lifts secrecy, readies PR blitz on construction

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ottawacitizen.com%2Flifts%2Bsecrecy%2Breadies%2Bblitz%2Bconstruction%2F1673319%2Fstory.html
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Ont. health agency scrutinized for contract tendering practices

Ont. health agency scrutinized for contract tendering practices
'Taxpayers are really getting ripped off': PC leader

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 10:27 PM ET
CBC News

An Ontario health agency has doled out nearly $5 million in contracts
without any apparent attempt to open up the deals to outside bidders,
documents obtained by CBC News show.

EHealth Ontario has come under scrutiny for its spending practices. (CBC)
Contracts valued at about $4.8 million were signed off by eHealth
Ontario's CEO and president, Sarah Kramer, during the first four
months of the newly formed agency's operation, according to documents
obtained by the Progressive Conservative party through a freedom of
information request.

A letter regarding the request states that no procurement documents
for consultant services were located "because none were created."

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/27/ehealth-ontario.html

Thanks to the Parties and their candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions on Freedom of Information.


Flag Canada Nova ScotiaImage by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

Thanks to the Parties and their candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions on Freedom of Information.
Good Luck in the Election to all.

For their responses, click on:
http://nsrtk.blogspot.com/search/label/NSElection09


Remember to get out and vote.

Democracy is about participation and voting truly is the very least you can do.





"I am a Canadian,
free to speak without fear,
free to worship in my own way,
free to stand for what I think right,
free to oppose what I believe wrong, or
free to choose those who shall govern my country.
This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."
- John G. Diefenbaker

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Secrecy undermines faith in professionals (NB)

Coat of arms of New BrunswickImage via Wikipedia

Secrecy undermines faith in professionals

Published Monday June 8th, 2009

Last year, Brunswick News Inc. went to court to defend the public's right to information about professional disciplinary hearings. A judge agreed with our challenge, and gave the provincial government and the Law Society of New Brunswick until June 30 to introduce new legislation.

Professionals and politicians heeded the ruling, and the result is two new bills - one which brings greater transparency to hearings against lawyers, and another which will open up hearings held by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

New Brunswick was the last jurisdiction in Canada where competence and disciplinary hearings could be held in secret. Other provinces long ago devised measures to ensure public access, while protecting any details that must remain confidential to protect the privacy of complainants.

That said, we wish legislators had placed greater emphasis on the public's right to know.

The legislation provides numerous loopholes for lawyers and doctors to exclude the public and implement publication bans. Such discretionary secrecy undermines faith in the ability of professional bodies to police their members.

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Saturday, June 06, 2009

Commercially sensitive documents exposed by FOI in Queensland - 5 June 2009

The Parliament of Queensland in BrisbaneThe Parliament of Queensland in Brisbane - Image via Wikipedia

Commercially sensitive documents exposed by FOI in Queensland - 5 June 2009

On 2 June 2009, the Queensland Parliament passed the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (the RTI Act) and Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) (the IP Act). These Acts create significant changes to the Freedom of Information (FOI) regime in Queensland. People will now have access to the documents of agencies and ministers, unless on balance, release of the material can be shown to be contrary to the public interest.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.mallesons.com/publications/2009/Jun/9940860W.htm


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Stamp it 'Secret' and you're safe - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA

http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandtribune.ca%2FArticleDisplay.aspx%3Fe%3D1601841&_gwt_oid=.1.4.1.6.0.0.1.
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EDC's response to FOI requests make it look like it has something to hide - The Sault Star Mobile

http://m.saultstar.com/article.aspx?a=1601593
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Expert: Halifax sewage plant decision violates freedom of information laws | Reality Bites | Halifax, Nova Scotia | THE COAST

Halifax Regional MunicipalityImage via Wikipedia

Expert: Halifax sewage plant decision violates freedom of information laws

The public has a right to see report, says Darce Fardy

Posted by Darce Fardy on Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 11:18 PM

[Editor's note: Darce Fardy was Nova Scotia's privacy review officer from 1995 to 2006, overseeing the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy office. After retiring from that position, Fardy founded the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia, an organization that advocates for greater access to government information.]

I know of no bigger issue ever to face the people of the Halifax Regional Municipality than the cleanup of our harbour. It provides council with an excellent opportunity to adopt a policy of full disclosure on a matter of such enormous public interest.

FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/archives/2009/06/05/expert-halifax-sewage-plant-decision-violates-freedom-of-information-laws

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