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Federal Conservatives broke their open government promises, but opposition parties also to blame for ongoing government secrecy

Set out below is a letter-to-the-editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher which was published in shorter, edited form in the April 15, 2010 issue of the Edmonton Sun, the April 17, 2010 issues of the Vancouver Sun and the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, and the April 18, 2010 issue of the Calgary Sun

Dear Editor,

The federal Information Commissioner's latest report reveals continuing unjustifiable delays in the release of federal government information, delays which could have been prevented if all federal political parties had worked together to pass a bill strengthening the access-to-information system in the ways the Conservatives promised in their 2006 election platform.

In that platform, the Conservatives promised to require all government and government-funded institutions to create records detailing all their actions and decisions, and to give the Information Commissioner the power to order the disclosure of any record if it is in the public interest and would not cause any actual harm to anyone or any organization.

The Conservatives are mostly to blame for breaking their promise to include these changes in the so-called Federal Accountability Act, but opposition parties are also to blame because in the current minority government situation they could easily pass a bill making the changes  (To see Democracy Watch's December 2009 Report Card on the Conservatives' 29 broken promises, click here).

Until these changes are made, and the Information Commissioner is also given the power to penalize violators, it is very likely that future Commissioner reports will continue to detail abuses that violate the spirit and intent of the access-to-information system.

NOTE: See set out below the Conservatives' promises quoted from their 2006 platform.

Sincerely,
Duff Conacher, Coordinator
Democracy Watch 


For more details, go to Democracy Watch's Open Government Campaign

FEDERAL CONSERVATIVES' (MOSTLY) BROKEN ACCESS-TO-INFORMATION PROMISES

ONE PROMISE PARTIALLY KEPT:
"Expand the coverage of the [Access to Information Act] to all Crown corporations, Officers of Parliament, foundations, and organizations that spend taxpayers’ money or perform public functions"

(NOTE: the Federal Accountability Act (FAA) added 50 new federal government institutions to the list of institutions covered by the Access to Information Act, but did keep the promise of extending the Act to all government and government-funded organizations.  The FAA also changed the Act to allow draft reports to be kept secret until finalized (delaying access significantly))


EIGHT PROMISES NOT KEPT:
"Implement the Information Commissioner’s recommendations for reform of the Access to Information Act."

"Give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of information."

"Subject the exclusion of Cabinet confidences to review by the Information Commissioner."

"Oblige public officials to create the records necessary to document their actions and decisions."

"Provide a general public interest override for all exemptions, so that the public interest is put before the secrecy of the government.

"Ensure that all exemptions from the disclosure of government information are justified only on the basis of the harm or injury that would result from disclosure, not blanket exemption rules."

"Ensure that the disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act cannot be circumvented by secrecy provisions in other federal acts, while respecting the confidentiality of national security and the privacy of personal information."

"Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists."