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“To have to FOI the Board of Education is pathetic,” said Fracasso.
The Freedom of Information request was part of a series of motions, passed unanimously during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting Monday night. The thrust of these motions was to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education, regarding the latter’s financial state.
Come Clean, Premier Campbell
HST questions for BC Liberals after censored documents released draw unbelievable answers.
By Bill Tieleman, Yesterday, TheTyee.ca
"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix." -- Harry Truman, U.S. president 1945-53
Oshawa council spends expense cash on BlackBerries, advertising, meals, galas
Newsdurhamregion.com
Oshawa This Week recently filed a Freedom of Information request to obtain line-by-line details of what Oshawa councillors and the mayor bought
Image via Wikipedia Jagdeo again promises broadcast, FOI laws: "By Stabroek staff | August 31, 2010
Broadcast and Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation will be passed in the next session of Parliament, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday, in the latest of a series of promises.
Asked during an informal interview at the International Conference Centre, Jagdeo said the legislation would soon be tabled in the National Assembly. “As soon as Parliament comes out of recess…freedom of information… and the broadcast legislation will be passed,” he said.
In April last year, during the Summit of Americas in Trinidad, Jagdeo told reporters that the FOI legislation would be tabled in the National Assembly within two months. In October the same year, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon pledged that the FOI Bill and the long-delayed broadcast legislation were among bills that would be tabled during the last parliamentary session.
Image by Jessicamulley via Flickr MPs abuse watchdog staff over new expenses regime
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has revealed the way their staff were treated by MPs as a result of the new rules on expenses.
The scheme came into effect on 7 May 2010, and was devised by the independent watchdog to ensure that expenses are based on reimbursement as opposed to “paying allowances”.
As a result of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the IPSA has published a document which reveals the extent to which MPs and Houses of Commons employees treated watchdog staff when they were handling their expenses. It revealed that IPSA staff reported ten separate incidents of abuse, which included an MP repeatedly calling the new systems an “abortion”, another individual striking the laptop of his facilitator’s desk and one MP using expletives to one IPSA staff member and said they would “murder someone today”.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.thegrapevinemagazine.com/?newsid=3170
“There is a general global trend toward more transparency. Austria lags behind in this regard because it has a weak and poorly implemented access to information.” (Aug 11 2010)
8/20/2010 11:05:00 AM
I should give credit where it's due on PATI
Stuart Hayward
One of the most frequent criticisms in the world of politics is a focus on what someone failed to do. It’s also one of the worst. We hear it all the time: “So-and-so failed to mention this, or failed to do that, or failed to consider the other.” And then the critic counts that failure as condemnation, all the while ignoring all the things mentioned or done right.
FULL ARTICLE: http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=47668
From the UBC Blog:
http://blogs.ubc.ca/pkp2009/2009/07/12/publishing-freedom-of-information-the-open-government-records-plug-in-for-ojs/
From PKP International Scholarly Publishing Conferences:
http://pkp.sfu.ca/ocs/pkp/index.php/pkp2009/pkp2009/paper/view/131
Publishing Freedom of Information: The Open Government Records Plugin for OJS
Mark Weiler
Last modified: 2009-06-15
Abstract
In this presentation, I demonstrate a new plugin for OJS that allows journals to publish freedom of information requests. The plugin, named Open Government Records (OGR), offers users features that allow them to make, track, store, and publish freedom of information requests as well as the records disclosed by government bodies. Intended primarily as a research technology, OGR gives scholars and academics a way to access government materials. A working example of OGR will be demonstrated. I also provide a case study of how OGR is being used to inform the field of education and curriculum studies. In this case study, I use OGR to document curricular and learning programs that government bodies design for our public servants. An installation of Open Government Records can be found here: http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/
Slide Show: http://www.slideshare.net/svoyer1/pkp2009-presentation
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RIGHT TO KNOW COALITION MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF JUSTICE FOR NOVA SCOTIA
(Halifax, NS) The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is hopeful that Nova Scotians will see improvements in transparency and access to government information following a meeting with the new Minister of Justice, Ross Landry.
Right to Know president Darce Fardy and board member Brian Awad used the meeting to advocate for reduced Freedom of Information application and review fees, and shorter review times. The application fee is currently $25, which is the highest in Canada. "We definitely believe that it is an inhibitor," said Fardy in the meeting.
Right to Know also requested that the Minister ask the new Premier to affirm in a formal manner his government's commitment to open and transparent government, and participatory democracy.
"Our proposals are not new to the people with whom we met," said Fardy after the meeting. "Right to Know had put forward the proposals during the recent election campaign. They were well received by the New Democrats at that time."
"Today, we were hosted cordially by the Minister. The 'take-home message' seemed to be that each of our proposals is consistent with the approach that will be taken by the new government, and that each will be worked on or is already being worked on."
"I believe that we will see some positive announcements in the near future," said Fardy.
The Minister of Justice is the member of the Cabinet who is responsible for the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is a not for profit advocacy and education organization that encourages the use and development of freedom-of-information legislation to foster a better informed and more politically active electorate in Nova Scotia and to improve the quality of public and private decision making in the province.
-30-
31 July 2009
For information contact
Darce Fardy
President
Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
Image by firmatography via Flickr
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.
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The Parliament of Queensland in Brisbane - Image via Wikipedia
From Michael Lines on Slaw: UNESCO and its Communication and Information Sector have just released a new edition of Freedom of information: a comparative legal survey, and it is free online. The importance of the right to information or the right to know is an increasingly constant refrain in the mouths of development practitioners, civil society, academics, the media and governments. What is this right, is it really a right and how have governments sought to give effect to it? These are some of the questions this book seeks to address, providing an accessible account of the law and practice regarding freedom of information, and an analysis of what is working and why. The analysis in the book is organised around a number of key features of an effective Freedom of Information regime: Ireland is not one of the countries assessed in this report, but since Elaine Byrneargued in yesterday’s Irish Times that legislation is need to protect whistleblowers, I am not sanguine that the Irish legislation (1997 as amended in 2003) would measure up well against these principles.Jun032009
Freedom of information: a comparative legal survey
Posted by: Eoin in Freedom of InformationFreedom of information: a comparative legal survey
Home Page for Report: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26159&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
The survey was prepared by Toby Mendel, Law Programme Director with Article XIX. From the survey’s homepage:
Freedom of information legislation should by guided by the principle of maximum disclosure
Public bodies should be under an obligation to publish key Information
Public bodies must actively promote open government
Exceptions should be clearly and narrowly drawn and subject to strict “harm” and “public interest” tests
Requests for information should be processed rapidly and fairly and an independent review of any refusals should be available
Individuals should not be deterred from making requests for information by excessive costs
Meetings of public bodies should be open to the public
Laws which are inconsistent with the principle of maximum disclosure should be amended or repealed
Individuals who release information on wrongdoing - whistleblowers - must be protected
The following is an excerpt from the NS Green Party website: 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 --- Green Party Candidate Responses to Freedom of Information Questions Posed by the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia --- 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 ---- 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 ---- 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 ---- 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. All the best, Judy Davis Green Party Candidate in Colchester North ------ candidate for the Green Party of NS in the Truro-Bible Hill riding ----- 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
Right To Know Coalition Questions
---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
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. Hello, 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
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The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is asking all party leaders in this election campaign to address our concerns with the administration of our Freedom of Information legislation.
It is a good Act in its purpose (requiring total accountability) and its reach (government, municipalities, school boards, hospitals, universities, and colleges) but it’s the coalition’s view that costs attached to using the Act and the waiting times for responses discourage applicants from taking advantage of their rights under the Act.
The coalition proposes the following:
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 coalition would appreciate a response within one week. Yours and the responses of the other leaders will be posted on our website: http://www.nsrighttoknow.ca/ .
We believe these changes will lead to a better informed electorate and larger voter turnouts.
Thank you
Darce Fardy
Founder and President of the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
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