Watchdog attacks federal cult of secrecy

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Tags: Canada, Freedom of information legislation, Information access, Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner Robert Marleau, Robert Marleau

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Published on: February 27, 2009

Watchdog attacks federal cult of secrecy
Access to information so limited it’s a “crisis”
By The Canadian Press
Fri. Feb 27 – 4:46 AM

OTTAWA — There are serious flaws in the administration of the federal access-to-information law, says Information Commissioner Robert Marleau.

In a scathing report, Marleau gives six of 10 federal agencies poor grades on their compliance with a law that is supposed to give the Canadian public access to government files. He calls the situation a “major information management crisis.”

“There are major delays, particularly with extensions, with some institutions routinely taking months to respond to information requests,” Marleau said.

“Canadians expect and deserve far greater efficiency and accountability from their government.”

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Government secrecy ‘grim,’ watchdog says

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Tags: Access to Information Act, Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner Robert Marleau, Robert Marleau, The Globe and Mail

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Published on: February 26, 2009

Government secrecy ‘grim,’ watchdog says

CAMPBELL CLARK

Globe and Mail Update

February 26, 2009 at 10:36 AM EST

OTTAWA — The federal Information Commissioner is warning that Canadians’ ability to get information from their government has reached a dire state.

The Harper Conservatives now routinely delay requests for government documents – a right of Canadians under the law – well beyond the 30 days that the Access to Information Act requires.

Six out of the 10 governments departments reviewed by the commissioner’s office received failing grades.

“I do believe that its results provide a grim picture of the federal government’s access to information regime,” Information Commissioner Robert Marleau says in a special report to Parliament.

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Irish Opposition Call for cut in FOI fees rejected

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Tags: Brian Cowen, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Eamon Gilmore, Enda Kenny, Fine Gael, Information Commissioner, Ireland, Taoiseach

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Published on: February 12, 2009

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Call for cut in FOI fees rejected

MARIE O’HALLORAN

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

MEMBERS OF the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee got more information about expenses in the State agency Fás through freedom of information (FOI) requests than from documentation the agency supplied directly to the committee, the Dáil was told.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that was a justification for the FOI system as he called on Brian Cowen to ensure “State bodies provide the fullest possible information when freedom of information requests are made”.

He raised the issue as the Taoiseach rejected calls for fees for FOI requests to be reduced to a flat rate of €10 for requests, reviews and appeals.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin also called for the implementation of a recommendation by the Information Commissioner to end charges for requests and appeals. “In light of the scandals in banking and Fás” he said it was the “absence of scrutiny that has given rise to much of what we have witnessed”.

Requests cost €15, which Mr Cowen said was “modest” when the administration cost of processing a request was estimated at an average of €485.

Earlier, Mr Cowen said he would consider a call by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that there should be a “wall” between a Minister responsible for a scheme of expenses and any agency implementing the scheme. However, the Taoiseach said “why not have greater transparency from the State agency in the first place”.

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New UK information chief pledges action on FoI backlog

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Tags: BBC, Christopher Graham, Freedom of Information, Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner's Office, Richard Thomas

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Published on: February 2, 2009

New information chief pledges action on FoI backlog

30 January 2009

By Paul McNally

The new Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, has pledged to make reducing the substantial backlog of Freedom of Information appeals a priority when he takes up the job this summer.

Graham, who has been selected by the Ministry of Justice to replace

Outgoing IC Richard Thomas – Image via Wikipedia

Richard Thomas

at the end of June, was grilled by MPs on the justice select committee in a pre-appointment hearing this week.

Although the Information Commissioner’s Office now settles more cases than it receives each year, it is still feeling the effects of a huge backlog which built up in the first year of the Act, four years ago.

The body receives £5.5m a year in funding from the Ministry of Justice, and employs 53 case-workers to deal with FoI complaints.

Justice committee chairman Sir Alan Beith, the Libreal Democrat MP for Berwick Upon Tweed, asked Graham whether the MoJ had promised him any extra resources to clear the backlog.

“It is very challenging,” Graham replied. “I have not had any discussions with the Ministry of Justice about resources. I have not had many discussions beyond the job application. I think the fun now starts.”

He added: “The freedom of information side looks to be pretty tightly resourced. It is a backlog that has been there pretty much from day one.

“It will be interesting to see how we can deal with that increase and clear up the backlog unless there are significant resources made available, but I would also say that this is a problem that is not unfamiliar to me.”

Graham, a former BBC journalist who has led the Advertising Standards Authority since 2000, said one of his first priorities when he joined the ad watchdog had been to ensure complaints were handled more quickly.

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