Calling access to information a cornerstone of democracy, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) is proposing key reforms to the law guaranteeing Canadians’ right to know what government is doing.
Listen“Shroud of secrecy” exists, says opposition“More and more users of our access to information system are complaining that they’re either having to wait too long, or it costs too much, or (that) virtually, the shroud of secrecy has fallen over a lot of what their government is doing,” says Pat Martin, NDP member of parliament.
Canada’s Access to Information Act came into being in 1983. It has not had a complete revision since then. Canada has an information commissioner who handles complaints from people not satisfied with the government’s handling of their requests. Under the law the government can refuse to divulge documents deemed to be cabinet confidences or matters of national security.
The commissioner does not currently have the power to review such government refusals by inspecting the material. Nor can she compel government departments to release information, says Martin. Sometimes she must go to court to gain access to material.
It’s not “insider information”: Martin
“The government is acting as if it’s their information,” says Martin. “In actual fact this information belongs to the people. It’s not government insider information. The public should have access.”
Commissioner needs more power
The information commissioner should have the power to examine cabinet documents and to determine whether material can be withheld, says Martin. He adds that administrative records of the House of Commons and the Senate should be accessible. Martin plans to table a private member’s bill to make these and other changes to the access to information law.
“Canadians should be furious”
“Sunlight is such a natural disinfectant,” says Martin. “And secrecy is the natural enemy of good public administration. So I think Canadians should be furious that they’re not being given this right to know what their government is doing. I’m not sure they appreciate what an important right that it is.”
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