Saturday, May 29, 2010

CBC News - Canada - RCMP computer report 'designed to hide,' MP says

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/05/29/rcmp-computer-cost-report.html

FOI FYI » Blog Archive » FOI Links of the Day 5.28.10

http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/foi/?p=841

FOIFriday: 10 things we've learnt this week thanks to the Freedom ...

http://davidhiggerson.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/foi-friday-10-things-weve-learnt-this-week-thanks-to-the-freedom-of-information-act-14/
A great result for the Streatham Guardian which used FOI to find out the number of children being treated for drug addications – including booze – in the area. The information came from the local PCT – or NHS Lambeth - and led to this ...
David Higgerson - http://davidhiggerson.wordpress.com/

Advocate urges stronger sunshine laws in Vt.

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100529/NEWS02/5290320/1003/NEWS02
By JOHN CURRAN AP - Published: May 29, 2010 MONTPELIER — Vermont journalists and open government advocates were urged Friday to expand their use of sunshine ...

Friday, May 28, 2010

Intro to Freedom of Information (FOI)

http://www.slideshare.net/alaninbelfast/foi-bar-campbelfast-may2010
Introduction to Freedom of Information (FOI) - slides used at BarCampBelfast on 22 May 2010 by Alan in Belfast @alaninbe.
www.slideshare.net/alaninbelfast/foi-bar-campbelfast-may2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Province Releases Review of South West Shore Development Authority

Province Releases Review of South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA)

Economic and Rural Development

May 26, 2010 12:15 PM

A review of operations by the South West Shore Development Authority by Ernst and Young was released today, May 26.

The 73 page document examines the administration of the regional development authority from January 2008 to February 2010, the sale of the Shelburne Youth Centre and the relationship with the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission.

"This report is very thorough and points to key issues that must be addressed," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development.

The report was commissioned by the Department of Economic and Rural Development at the request of the South West Shore Development Authority in response to a recommendation made by the Office of the Ombudsman.

"The board has started the process of reviewing this report, and has already started to act on these findings," said Phil LeBlanc, chair of the South West Shore Development Authority.

A copy of the report can be viewed at: www.gov.ns.ca/econ/reports/swsda

MPs sing new tune on audit after release of poll : metronews.ca

BBC - Open Secrets: Coalition plans for FOI

Declaration of open government imminent - Government 2.0 Taskforce, Gov 2.0 - Computerworld

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/348084/declaration_open_government_imminent/

CareerBeacon.com: Program Administration Officer 1-2 - Halifax, Legislative Library, Office of the Speaker

http://www.careerbeacon.com/search/en/-1/-1/14/-1/0/0/0/0/0/0/3/MB1005258227

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Incoming Philippine President banks on transparency to combat corruption, poverty

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2010-05/25/c_13315099.htm
"The FOI allows any citizen to access any information from any agency in the government. We (the Liberal Party) are for transparency and we believe that one ...
See all stories on this topic

N.S. bureaucrats never really wanted cancelled problem gambling ...

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/535375--n-s-bureaucrats-never-really-wanted-cancelled-problem-gambling-study-author
HALIFAX - A consultant who was fired by the Nova Scotia government as he worked ... memos about the study released under the Freedom of Information Act. The ...

Media Release 27/2010 - Rudd Government Delivers FOIReform

http://www.smos.gov.au/media/2010/mr_272010.html
The Rudd Government has secured the passage of the Government's FOI reform legislation - the Information Commissioner Bill and the Freedom of Information ...
www.smos.gov.au/media/2010/mr_272010.html

Delays thwart the public's right to public information

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/Delays+thwart+public+right+public+information/3072106/story.html
So a committee of the legislature studying BC's Freedom of Information and ... zeal for open government once their actions became the object of scrutiny. ...

Tories urged to open books

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Tories+urged+open+books/3072218/story.html
In Nova Scotia, the RCMP has been called in to investigate one sitting member and ... The province's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ...

Straight Goods - Bumper crop of concealment - CAJ announces nominees for Code of Silence Award.

http://www.straightgoods.ca/2010/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=532&Cookies=yes

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Info highway one-way street for government - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca

http://thechronicleherald.ca/TheNovaScotian/1183772.html

Tories bar ministerial staff from testifying

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/05/25/ministers-staff-muzzled.html?ref=rss
The Conservative government has presented a new cabinet policy
directing that only cabinet ministers and not their political staff
can appear as witnesses before parliamentary committees.

MPs shouldn't fear expenses audit: AG

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/05/25/mps-expenses.html?ref=rss
Canadian members of Parliament should not be afraid to have their
expenses audited, if it's true that the rules and regulations in place
are as good as the MPs say they are, says Auditor General Sheila Fraser.

State Court: ESU Must Open Records

http://www.universitybusiness.com/newssummary.aspx?news=yes&postid=22873
Donor records relating to scholarships and a signature East
Stroudsburg University building must be made available to the Pocono
Record, a state court ruled Monday in the most recent turn in a 15-
month-long legal battle.

Tories shield staffers from 'hostile committees and tyrannical ...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-shield-staffers-from-hostile-committees-and-tyrannical-chairmen/article1580017/
"Ministers are individually and collectively responsible to the House of Commons ... committee to explain why he blocked an Access to Information request. ...

Toronto Sun

http://m.torontosun.com/14064186.1

Ferry changes worth cost

Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 07:07:37 -0300

http://www.timescolonist.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=3066807

Royal appetite for secrecy can only invite scandal | Heather Brooke - The Guardian

http://m.guardian.co.uk/?id=102202&story=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/may/24/royal-appetite-secrecy-only-invite-scandal

Friday, May 21, 2010

Local OpenGov Group Releases Great Analysis of DC Government's Transparency

Local OpenGov Group Releases Great Analysis of DC Government's Transparency: "... Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and whether they would support creating penalties for agency directors who do not comply with DC's open government ...

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NDP faces growing pressure to let Auditor vet parliamentary expenses - The Globe and Mail

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-faces-growing-pressure-to-let-auditor-vet-parliamentary-expenses/article1576599/?service=mobile
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Tables are turned as Ontario Ombudsman’s expenses come under scrutiny - The Globe and Mail

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/tables-are-turned-as-ontario-ombudsmans-expenses-come-under-scrutiny/article1576652/?service=mobile
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Quote of the Day

"Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory."
-- John Kenneth Galbraith
 
 
 
 

Thursday, May 20, 2010

UK Freedom of Information Blog: Lord McNally confirmed as new FOI ...

UK Freedom of Information Blog: Lord McNally confirmed as new FOI ...: "Lord McNally confirmed as new FOI minister. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the Lib Dems' Tom McNally, Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, will be responsible for freedom of information, data protection ...


UK Freedom of Information Blog - http://foia.blogspot.com/
"

Political Arena - The Coast Halifax (blog)

Political Arena - The Coast Halifax (blog): "


Political Arena
The Coast Halifax (blog)
The Coast filed a Freedom of Information request for the information. Monday, we received a copy of the 150-page-plus contract, but the essential ...

"

Alberta government, federal Public Safety Minister among nominees for CAJ .....

 
 

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Alberta government, federal Public Safety Minister among nominees for CAJ ...
DigitalJournal.com (press release)
The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, for taking two-and-a-half years to comply with a 2006 freedom of information request for ...

and more »

 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

MPs' food and drinks tabs revealed

MPs' food and drinks tabs revealed: "... according to previous releases under the FOI Act. The information released will be particularly embarrassing for more than 70 current and former MPs who ...

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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Historic records belong to people

Historic records belong to people: "Lawyers representing Canadian Press reporter Jim Bronskill, who had filed a freedom of information request with Library and Archives Canada for hundreds of ...
"

MPs' secretiveness gets even more tiresome

MPs' secretiveness gets even more tiresome: "Not one MP or MNA - the corresponding data are secret provincially, too - has responded to our invitation to explain their shyness about $500 million they ...

See all stories on this topic"

Monday, May 17, 2010

Critic applauds plan to amend FOI rules to include B.C. Ferries

Critic applauds plan to amend FOI rules to include B.C. Ferries: "By Walter Cordery, The Daily News May 17, 2010 The NDP MLA for Nanaimo applauds the Liberal provincial government's move to amend BC's privacy and ...

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NS Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office 2009 Annual Report

Flag Canada Nova ScotiaImage by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

Good Morning Everyone,

On Monday May 10, 2010, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer delivered her 2009 Annual Report to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly which is now available to the public.
Review Officer Dulcie McCallum discloses in the Report the public body recipient of the Gold Star Award, and outlines a number of the Review Reports, Meditations and Informal Resolutions. The latter increased by 135% in 2009, demonstrating a commitment by the Review Office to timely resolutions. The 2009 Annual Report also highlights areas of continuing concern such as failure on the part of many public bodies to give full reasons to applicants when decisions are first made regarding their access requests. The 2009 Annual Report is available on the FOIPOP Review Office website at http://www.foipop.ns.ca/pub_annual.html

Mary Kennedy
Intake/Administration
Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy
Review Office
Tel: (902) 424-4684
Fax: (902) 424-8303
Web: www.foipop.ns.ca 
 
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6th Annual Freedom of Information Conference

6th Annual Freedom of Information Conference: "Joseph Stilwell Keynote speaker is Graham Smith, The Deputy Information Commissioner and FOI lead at the ICO. This highly popular two-day Freedom of ...

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Canada strikes deal on Afghan detainee documents

Canada strikes deal on Afghan detainee documents: "The government and opposition agreed Friday to establish a small, all-party committee sworn to secrecy to examine the disputed material. ...

See all stories on this topic"

Bear hug for Banff - Calgary Herald

Bear hug for Banff - Calgary Herald: "



Bear hug for Banff
Calgary Herald
It was among only five agencies in the country to receive an A+ grade in the Canadian Newspaper Association's annual freedom-of-information audit. ...

and more »
"

Time lawmakers open their books for the auditor

Time lawmakers open their books for the auditor: "... if Canada's parliamentarians have been too busy yelling about the need for accountability and transparency and the wickedness of government secrecy to ...

See all stories on this topic"

Tax Research UK » Cayman's Prime Minister attacks freedom of the ...

Tax Research UK » Cayman's Prime Minister attacks freedom of the ...: "Both the media and the Freedom of Information (FOI) law came under attack from the premier on Thursday afternoon when he accused Nicky Watson, the owner of Cayman News Service, of wasting government time because of an FOI request she ...


Tax Research UK - http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/
"

MPs look bad by shutting door on AG, says former access commissioner

MPs look bad by shutting door on AG, says former access commissioner: "

Hill Times (subscription)

He said that the Access to Information Act should not necessarily be applied to ... until the events unfolded in Nova Scotia, and similarly in Britain. ...
"

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Windsor given high grades for releasing info

The fifth annual exercise conducted by the Canadian Newspaper Association graded FOI responses ...

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 

via Google Alerts - "foi" -"ma foi" by Windsor Star on 5/12/10

The fifth annual exercise conducted by the Canadian Newspaper Association graded FOI responses to uniform requests of information by every level of ...
See all stories on this topic

 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Freedom of information 'eroded': Audit - Toronto Sun

Toronto Sun
Indian Affairs asked for $5701 to process an information request on cellphones. Canada Post asked only $10.

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 



Freedom of information 'eroded': Audit
Toronto Sun
Indian Affairs asked for $5701 to process an information request on cellphones. Canada Post asked only $10. But the biggest proposed fee came from British ...

and more »

 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Ministers at odds over information law (PEI)

Ministers at odds over information law
WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian

An off-hand remark in the P.E.I. legislature last week provided Islanders with a glimpse inside the Freedom of Information process and has two cabinet ministers at odds over the law.

Innovation Minister Allan Campbell was responding to a question from the Opposition regarding the contract the province handed to Bell Aliant to bring high-speed Internet to rural P.E.I.

"I believe there is a request that's been forwarded through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act with respect to the development agreement," Currie said in response to the question.

"I'm not sure if the member from Georgetown-St. Peters is part of that request or not, but certainly the request is in and I'm letting that process take place."

Those two sentences proved that the minister was aware that a Freedom of Information request had been made to his department, even before that information was made public.

That, says Attorney General Doug Currie, who is responsible for the Freedom of Information Act, is wrong. He said he's never personally asked for, or has never been given information about access requests from his department.

FOI laws finally get through

FOI laws finally get through: "The legislation finally received Senate approval yesterday, allowing for a new FOI regime to be in place by the end of the year. Under the most significant ...

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Quote of the Day

 

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito."

 

-- Unknown

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

CBC News - Technology & Science - Ottawa open data site launched

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/05/12/ottawa-open-data.html?ref=rss

Ontario hospitals may lose privacy

Ontario hospitals may lose privacy: "

CBC.ca

Privacy and information commissioner Ann Cavoukian has long called for hospitals to be included in the legislation, along with universities and Children's ...

See all stories on this topic"

2010 FOI Summit Navigation

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 

via Google Alerts - "foi" -"ma foi" by on 5/12/10

Federal FOI Resources · FOI Center · Donate. Protecting the Public's Right to Oversee its Government. 2010 FOI Summit Navigation. Print this page ...
www.nfoic.org/2010-summit-navigation

 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Government departments blocking requests from public

Government departments blocking requests from public
Posted Tue, May 11th 2010, 19:01
(Grand Cayman - CITN) -



The Information Commissioner is concerned that some government departments are still blocking requests from the public.


Jennifer Dilbert was appointed commissioner when the new FOI law came into effect in January this year. She's concerned that people are still being denied, intimidated or wrongly refused information when they approach some government departments.

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 

via Google Alerts - "foi" -"ma foi" by Cayman 27 on 5/11/10

Jennifer Dilbert was appointed commissioner when the new FOI law came into effect in January this year. She's concerned that people are still being denied, ...
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Things you can do from here:

 
 

McGuinty taking 'good look' at putting Ontario hospitals under FOI laws

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

McGuinty taking 'good look' at putting Ontario hospitals under FOI laws
By: The Canadian Press

12/05/2010 9:46 AM | Comments: 0

TORONTO - Ontario hospitals may soon be required to provide information about how they're run to the public.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's taking a "good look" at including hospitals in the province's freedom-of-information laws.

He says there might be some real value in making the move to ensure that precious health-care dollars are well spent.

Privacy and information commissioner Ann Cavoukian has long called for hospitals to be included in the legislation, along with universities and Children's Aid societies.

The Ontario Hospital Association has also asked that hospitals be made subject to the law.

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 

via Google Alerts - "foi" -"ma foi" by Winnipeg Free Press on 5/12/10

TORONTO - Ontario hospitals may soon be required to provide information about how they're run to the public. Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's taking a ...
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

FOI being denied warns ICO

 
 

Sent to you by Greg via Google Reader:

 
 

via Google Alerts - "foi" -"ma foi" by Cayman News Service on 5/10/10

The ICO said she has identified weaknesses in the FOI process. "What is concerning are the number of people who share with us their negative experiences," ...
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Things you can do from here:

 
 

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Coalition head not buying More’s reasons - Right to Know Coalition leader says study on gambling should be released

Coalition head not buying More’s reasons

Right to Know Coalition leader says study on gambling should be released
PAUL MCLEOD
METRO HALIFAX 
May 04, 2010 12:00 a.m.
The head of a freedom of information advocacy group is complimenting one provincial minister and shaking his head at another.

Transportation Minister Bill Estabrooks should be congratulated for ordering the release of studies around whether to build a new trade centre, said Darce Fardy, head of the Right to Know Coalition and former freedom of information review officer for the province.

Department staff had been heavily censoring the reports before Estabrooks’ decree.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/518073--coalition-head-not-buying-more-s-reasons
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Are Federal Agencies Open? Audit Gives Mixed Grades - ProPublica

http://www.propublica.org/article/are-federal-agencies-open-audit-gives-mixed-grades-0502

Group gives most open government plans mediocre marks - Nextgov

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100503_2566.php?oref=topstory

Media Advisory: CNA to Release FOI Audit Release

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Media-Advisory-CNA-to-Release-FOI-Audit-Release-1157925.htm

Taxpayers Federation claims credit for BC Ferries FOI move :: The Hook

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2010/05/03/FerryRequest/

Monday, May 03, 2010

PM needs to lead 'open government'

Failing grade for openness - Journalists group blasts Tories for secrecy

Failing grade for openness
Journalists group blasts Tories for secrecy
By ROMINA MAURINO The Canadian Press
Mon. May 3 - 4:53 AM

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government invokes national security
'at the drop of a hat' as an excuse for suppressing information, says
the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.(CP)

TORONTO — The epic battle surrounding the release of uncensored
Afghanistan detainee documents is the latest example of why the Harper
government deserves an F when it comes to access to information, says
a new report.

While Canada traditionally ranks among the top 20 countries in the
world on free expression rights, when it comes to access to
information and the federal government "the only assessment can be a
failing grade," states the report from the Canadian Journalists for
Free Expression.

"We remain bedevilled by the antics of those federal entities that
invoke national security at the drop of a hat to restrict the
dissemination of vital information to journalists and, in turn, the
public," said the 40-page review, which is being released Monday to
coincide with World Press Freedom Day.

FULL ARTICLE: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1180377.html

Dukes wants Nama subject to FoI Act

Dukes wants Nama subject to FoI Act: "... to criticism by Prof Brian Lucey of Trinity College Dublin over Nama's exclusion from the FoI Act. Prof Lucey said that Anglo should be closed down. ...

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