Fix Canada's Broken Access to Information System

Coalition calls on parties to improve the public's right to know

TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - The undersigned organizations have issued a joint letter to the major political parties in Canada calling on them to make concrete commitments to reform Canada's access to information system.

A strong access to information system is vital to maintaining a healthy democracy. The public has the right to obtain the information it needs to participate meaningfully in the democratic process, while also holding Canada's public officials and Members of Parliaments accountable. The current system is failing Canadians.

"Canadians are being left in the dark," said Tom Henheffer, Executive Director of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. "We have a right to know in this country and it's being undermined. Urgent access to information reform is needed to hold politicians and public institutions accountable, to keep the public informed and to ensure Canadian democracy continues to function."

"When the Access to Information Act was adopted over 30 years ago, Canada was a world leader on this important democratic right," said Toby Mendel, Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy. "But decades of stagnation have left us in a miserable 59^th position globally, far behind countries like India, Mexico, South Africa and Slovenia." 

"It is long past time these changes were made," said Vincent Gogolek, Executive Director of Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. "The black holes in the Access to Information Act have to be closed."

Our country deserves an open and accountable government. Political parties must make a clear electoral promise to undertake a comprehensive process of consultation leading to reform of the Access to Information Act. They must also express specific support for the rapid adoption of the following four reforms following the election:

1. Strengthen the Office of the Information Commissioner with a larger mandate and order-making power.
2. Eliminate loopholes and blanket exclusions and minimize exceptions to the Access to Information Act.
3. Expand the scope of the Act to include all public authorities and other bodies which perform a public function or receive significant public funding.
4. Require public officials to document and preserve all records of their decision-making.

How can Canadians help reform Canada's access to information system?

• Send an email to your representatives: using CJFE's simple one-click platform, you can easily make your right to information a priority to federal party leaders and your local MPs and senators based on your postal code.
• Share your views on social media: tweet at Secretary of the Treasury Board @TonyclementCPC, Liberal Open Government Critic @Scott_Simms and NDP Treasury Board Critic @MRavignat using #ATIreform and #cdnfoi to let them know that you want to see immediate reforms to Canada's access to information system.
• Donate: support the #ATIreform campaign and CJFE's important work by making a donation.

Signatories:
BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)
Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)
Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD)
Centre for Social Justice
Evidence for Democracy
Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec (FPJQ)
Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)
Greenpeace Canada
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
PEN Canada
Politics of Evidence Working Group
Newspapers Canada
OpenMedia
Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
Voices-Voix

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) monitors, defends and reports on free expression and access to information in Canada and abroad. Rooted in the field of journalism, CJFE promotes a free media as essential to a fair and open society. CJFE boldly champions the free expression rights of all people, and encourages and supports individuals and groups in the protection of their own and others' free expression rights. cjfe.org

The Canadian Association of Journalists is a professional organization with more than 600 members across Canada. The CAJ's primary roles are public-interest advocacy work and professional development for its members.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is Canada's leading non-partisan citizens' advocacy group fighting for lower taxes, less waste and accountable government.  Founded in 1990, the CTF has more than 84,000 supporters and seven offices across Canada.  The CTF is funded by free-will, non tax-receiptable contributions.

Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) works around the world to promote, protect and develop those human rights which serve as the foundation for or underpin democracy, including the rights to freedom of expression, to vote and participate in governance, to access information and to freedom of assembly and association. www.law-democracy.org

Newspapers Canada is the voice of Canada's newspapers, representing over 800 daily, weekly and community newspapers. One of the association's missions is to advance the cause of freedom of expression in Canada generally and to advocate the right to freedom of expression of individuals, including freedom of the press and other media of communication and the right of people to have a press free from governmental control or restrain

Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is a non-partisan, non-profit society established in 1991 to promote and defend freedom of information and privacy rights in Canada.

SOURCE Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

For further information: and media enquiries, please contact: Tom Henheffer, Executive Director, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), [e-mail], 647-992-4630; Nick Taylor-Vaisey, President, Canadian Association of Journalists, [e-mail]; Toby Mendel, Executive Director, Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), [e-mail], 902-431-3688; Vincent Gogolek, Executive Director, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, 604-739-9788, www.fipa.bc.ca; Aaron Wudrick, CTF Federal Director, [e-mail], 613.295.8409