January 8, 2007 - THE RIGHT TO KNOW COALITION OF NOVA SCOTIA VISITS THE LEGISLATURE.


2007 Greg Pemberton

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Two members of the board of the RTKNS Coalition, and an active volunteer went to the legislature on Monday evening, January 8, 2007 to deliver a letter written to all MLAs to ask for their support for three recommendations for improving the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP): lower the fees for using the Act (the highest in Canada); make the Review Office an office of the legislature (as it is in every other jurisdiction in Canada); and make it an offence to reveal the names of applicants except those who must have the information in order to process the application. (See letter on website)

The Liberal Party opposition has already tabled a bill that would lower the fees. On Monday night the Liberal member for Halifax Clayton Park, Diana Whelan, introduced a notice of motion supporting the recommendations found in the letter. (See notice of motion on website.)

The interim Liberal leader, Michel Samson, came to the lobby to meet our delegation.

The Minister of Justice, the Honourable Murray Scott, also came out of the legislature to meet briefly with our delegation and offered to meet again at a time he was not required to be in his seat. He reaffirmed that the Department was seriously considering the effect of the application fees on Nova Scotians’ right to information. The coalition recently received a reply from the Minister to an earlier letter from the coalition. (See website)

The leader of the Official Opposition, Darrell Dexter (New Democratic Party), introduced the delegation from the floor of the legislature while we sat in the gallery, and met briefly with us later in the evening. The Opposition Justice Critic, Kevin Deveaux, met with the delegation for twenty minutes in the Legislative Library.

Other MLA’s approached us throughout the evening.

The delegation believed it saw a very positive attitude towards improving the FOIPOP Act.

During the session of the legislature before Christmas, a Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process was announced. We believe the intention is to hold meetings throughout the province. We encourage those who are interested in openness and accountability in government to appear before the committee when it comes to town. Let them know you share the RTKNS Coalition’s firm view that there cannot be a successful democracy without citizen participation in the process and without access to government information.

Darce Fardy
President
Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
(902) 422-1481
darce@eastlink.ca
www.nsrighttoknow.ca

On their website, the Coalition has posted an excerpt of the Nov 22, 2006 Nova Scotia Legislative Hansard containing a record of questions asked by Liberal MLA Michel Samson about the status of the hiring of a new Review Officer and about any possible changes in the fees.

View Excerpt: Status of New Review Officer

The Government's delay in appointing a new Review Officer to oversee the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and in pursuing a Liberal opposition bill to lower fees, can only be interpreted as a lack of interest in the Act. When asked by the Liberals in the legislature this week when decisions would be made on these two matters the reply, according to a news report, was 'soon'. The Review Officer position was posted some months ago and interviews of candidates have already taken place. One would understand that the government's apparent lack of interest may persuade good candidates to withdraw from the competition. On behalf of the Coalition, I urge the Government to act on the fees bill during this session of the legislature and to make the appointment to the Review Office immediately. Those who share these same concerns should make it known to the Premier and the Government caucus through their MLAs.

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