Liberals promise open government in cyber-space

Liberals promise open government in cyber-space

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Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff responds to a question during an news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Updated: Fri Oct. 22 2010 6:33:41 AM

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Liberals are vowing to create an open government data portal that would give Canadians unprecedented access to federally collected information.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says the initiative would "end the era of secrecy and control" and give Canadians the information to which they're entitled.

The United States, Britain and Australia are already using digital technology to open up their governments.

But Ignatieff says Canada has been held back by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whom he accuses of running "the most secretive government" in Canadian history.

However, the government has actually been discussing ways to allow citizens faster access to the reams of government data currently locked away behind a firewall.

Corinne Charette, the government's chief information officer, aims to have a plan in place in six to 12 months, according to a presentation she delivered in July, which The Canadian Press obtained under the Access to Information Act.

FULL ARTICLE: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101022/open-government-liberals-101022/20101022/?hub=TorontoNewHome

#FOI4U: FOI Requests Reveals That Federal budget cuts compromise weather data

Federal budget cuts compromise weather data, report warns

Loss affects monitoring of global warming

By Mike De Souza,
Postmedia News
August 22, 2010



The NDP's promise to axe the carbon tax has not gone over well with environmentalists concerned about climate change.Photograph by: Paul J. Richards, Getty Images filesOTTAWA — Sustained cuts to Environment Canada weather-service programs have compromised the government’s ability to assess climate change and left it with a “profoundly disturbing” quality of information in its data network, says an internal government report.



The stinging assessment, obtained through a freedom-of-information request, suggests Canada’s climate network infrastructure is getting progressively worse and no longer meets international guidelines.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=3430204&sponsor=

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