The following is an excerpt from the NS Green Party website:
Right To Know Coalition Questions
The Right To Know Coalition proposes the following in regards to the Freedom of Information legislation:
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 Green Party fully supports the proposals of the Right to Know Coalition. For the sake of transparency and accountable governance, government must take all reasonable measures to remove barriers for Freedom of Information requests from citizens.
We support reductions in costs, and drastic reductions in wait times. An 18 month wait is simply unacceptable. The Review Office should report to the Legislature, and all publicly funded agencies should be included in the index.
http://www.greenparty.ns.ca/content/2009right-to-know
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Green Party Candidate Responses to Freedom of Information Questions Posed by the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
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Hello Mr. Fardy,
The Green Party fully supports the proposals of the Right to Know Coalition. For the sake of transparency and accountable governance, government must take all reasonable measures to remove barriers for Freedom of Information requests from citizens.
We support reductions in costs, and drastic reductions in wait times. An 18 month wait is simply unacceptable. The Review Office should report to the legislature, and all publicly funded agencies should be included in the index.
Ryan Watson
Hello Mr. Fardy,
I believe that public access to information at all levels of government is essential to maintaining free, just society. The government with nothing to hide should know no fear of having its activities open to scrutiny. How can an administration which is closed to the public eye expect voters to feel that politics and policy are matters which concern us all? Accountability and transparency in government are principles welcomed by Green Parties all over the world, and the Green Party of Nova Scotia is no different.
If elected, I pledge my full support for any effort to streamline and simplify access to information in this great province.
Thank you for your email,
Kris MacLellan
Green Party Of Nova Scotia Candidate,
Halifax Needham
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Some years before I moved to Canada and became a Canadian citizen, I worked as a newspaper reporter in north Texas. For us in the news business, swift and free access to information was critical. I can't imagine it is any less critical in Nova Scotia. Without swift and free access, the rats andcockroaches of corruption have time to scuttle back into the darkness.
Sincerely,
Jim Lindsey
Green Party
candidate for Pictou Centre
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I agree with the Right to Know Coalition's proposals. My views are consistent with those of the Green Party of Nova Scotia, which are posted on our website (1) www.greenparty.ns.ca), and I support your coalition.
-Aviva Silburt
GPNS
Cumberland-North
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Hi Mr. Fardy.
My name is Judy Davis and I am running in this election as a Green Party Candidate in Colchester North.
I support your efforts wholeheartedly.
Our right to know is fundamental to living in a democracy and when information is not shared publicly we are all at risk of being exploited and abused by the powers that be. Like "informed consent" it is necesssary to be fully informed on all issues in order that we may make the best decisions for ourselves and others.
In the past year I have been involved in a campaign to keep our local hospital and ER from closing. By asking questions about the role of the doctors and other care providers in the community we were able to understand the underlying issues at play. Getting this information was extremely difficult to say the least.It was only through persistence and public engagement that the information was finally shared. Doctors and other care providers should not be protected from public scrutiny, nor should anyone in a position of trust.
Transparency is vital in order to protect our rights.
There should be a minimum or no fee charged for information requested under the Freedom of Information Act. The $25.00 dollar fee restricts accessibility for many Canadians.
Thank you for the work you do.
All the best,
Judy Davis
Green Party Candidate in Colchester North
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The current system to gain knowledge from the government seems to me to be out of date. I think it may be more beneficial to have this information, as long as it is not classified, to be available on the internet so that an individual can put the amount of time required into finding the information themselves. I think the fee and length of time makes the government appear to be "hiding" information form voters; however, it does take a considerable amount of time to manually find and collect information. The internet would seems to be a more modern approach to this issue.
Thank you for desiring my opinion,
Kaleigh Brinkhurst
candidate for the Green Party of NS in the Truro-Bible Hill riding
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Right to know Coalition,
I agree government and public bodies must be open on how our money is spent and we must have the right to view the process. We are not to be blocked from by cost or bureaucracy.
Yours,
Ron Mills
candidate for the Green Party of NS in the West Nova riding
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