Caroline Maynard, Information Commissioner of Canada, issued a statement: “Each year, the International Day for Universal Access to Information serves as a useful signpost for Canadians as we take stock of our progress toward greater government transparency. So at the start of this year’s Right to Know Week, I pose a familiar question: Are things moving in the right … Read more
The Information Commissioner of Canada, Caroline Maynard, submitted her 2021–22 Annual Report to Parliament. The Annual Report shows a concerning 70 per cent increase in complaints over the previous fiscal year. “Never, since the creation of the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada in 1983, have we recorded such a large number of complaints,” said Maynard. “The government must not … Read more
Caroline Maynard, Information Commissioner of Canada, issued the following statement: “Here in Canada, Right to Know Week reminds all of us that the right of access, a quasi-constitutional right, must be safeguarded as a fundamental pillar of our democracy, even in the midst of a crisis. This is particularly true at a time when public trust is of … Read more
The Information Commissioner of Canada, Caroline Maynard, submitted her 2020–21 Annual Report to Parliament. “In addition to exacerbating deficiencies in the access to information system, the pandemic has increased the need to document the government’s decision-making process,” said Maynard. “It is only by being fully transparent, and respecting good information management practices and the right of access, that the … Read more
In a joint resolution, Canada’s Information and Privacy regulators called on their respective governments to respect Canadians’ quasi-constitutional rights to privacy and access to information. The regulators took note of the serious impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the right of access to information and privacy rights in Canada and called on governments to use the … Read more
The Information Commissioner of Canada’s special report, Access at Issue: Challenging the Status Quo, was tabled in Parliament. The report details the results of her investigation into systemic issues affecting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s handling of access to information requests. “The key findings of this systemic investigation lead me to conclude that many of the issues related … Read more
The Information Commissioner submitted her observations and recommendations on the Government of Canada’s review of access to information. The report is available online. Call 613-769-3883.
The Information Commissioner of Canada’s special report Access at Issue: The need for leadership was tabled in Parliament. The report details the results of her investigation into systemic issues affecting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s handling of access to information requests. “The key findings in my special report lead me to conclude the obvious: a change of course … Read more
Information Commissioner of Canada Caroline Maynard’s 2019–20 annual report was tabled in Parliament. “The innovative approaches my team took to complete a record number of files, publish my decisions and issue guidance were a big factor in last year’s successes,” Commissioner Maynard said. “This spirit of innovation also served the organization well in the early … Read more
The Information Commissioner of Canada’s first special report was tabled in Parliament. The report – Access at issue: Nine recommendations regarding the processing of access requests at National Defence – covers the Commissioner’s systemic investigation into the procedures, policies and systems utilized by the Department of National Defence in the processing of access to information requests. “This … Read more
