Fees « Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia

post #45

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Tags: DianaWhalen, Fees, Liberal Party, Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leadership Race

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Published on: March 28, 2007

Diana Whalen is the second to respond to Darce’s query on Freedom of Information views sent to all four of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership candidates. We welcome her comments and thank her for supporting our cause in the Legislature back in January of this year.

Greg Pemberton
RTKNS Web Administrator

From: Diana Whalen

To: Darce Fardy

Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 10:09 AM

Subject: Re: Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia

Dear Mr. Fardy:

Thank you for the opportunity to give my views on Freedom of Information. First, let me agree with you that transparency and openness are important in the efforts to re-engage citizens and voters in the electoral system.

You may recall that this past January, I introduced a Resolution in the Legislature calling upon the Government to reduce the Freedom of Information fees, and to make the position of Freedom of Information officer report to the Legislature. I believe both of these measures would make information more accessible to citizens, and reinforce the importance of transparency and openness in our democracy.

Diana Whalen

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leadership 2007

post #43

by admin

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: CitizenEngagement, Fees, Liberal Party, Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leadership Race

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Published on: March 22, 2007

This email was sent out to candidates in the Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leadership Race coming up in April 2007 in order to discover their views on the public’s right to know. We will be posting the responses as they come in.

Greg Pemberton
RTKNS Web Admin

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The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is devoted to getting Nova Scotians re-engaged in the political process and more likely to vote. We believe that using our Freedom of Information legislation is a major step towards this objective. We are interested in your views on our Freedom of Information legislation and, in particular, the user fees which are the highest in Canada. We want the fees to be eliminated or at least considerably reduced.

Your comments will be appreciated and will appear on our website.

Regards

Darce Fardy
President
Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia

post #41

by admin

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: CitizenEngagement, Fees, NSRighttoKnow, PrimeMinister

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Published on: February 27, 2007

Former Canadian prime ministers Brian Mulroney, left, Joe Clark, second from left, Paul Marin and Kim Campbell. (CP PHOTO/Aaron Harris)

Even former prime ministers deplore Canadian’s lack of engagement in and cynicism towards the political process.

Page A3 of the Globe and Mail of February 22/07 carries a report on a conversation four former prime ministers, Clark, Campbell, Mulroney, and Martin, had as part of a CBC TV program “The New Great Prime Minister”.

All four wrestled with discussions on “the realities of engaging an increasingly disengaged citizenry” in the political process. They agreed that “this disconnect between government and governed” was a cause for worry.

None of the prime ministers appeared to propose a solution to their concerns.

But this is exactly the problem the Nova Scotia Right to Know Coalition wants to confront. We want the public to be aware of their rights to information from government under freedom of information legislation. We think that as they become better informed they will become reengaged with public issues and more inclined to vote.

The Nova Scotia Government could start by removing the unreasonable fees for using our Freedom of Information Act which are now the highest in Canada. It could also help by exercising the kind of transparency and accountability our Act demands of it.

The coalition needs the support of the public. They can help enormously by writing the Premier’s Office as well as their MLAs urging them to take action in support of our campaign.