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