FOI In The News (April 23, 2019)

Alberta FOI article

CBC News: Overburdened public bodies seek fees, restrictions on freedom of information requests

Ian Froese, April 11, 2019

In Manitoba, there is currently no charge to apply for access to records, and requestors are allotted two free hours for search and preparation time.  As part of a review of Manitoba’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, a number of Manitoba’s public institutions are proposing that the implementation of an application fee would mitigate the filing of numerous requests for related information.

Edmonton Journal: ‘Seduction of secrecy’: Will anyone fix Alberta’s freedom of information system?

Jonny Wakefield, April 14, 2019

Jill Clayton, Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner, states that Alberta’s access to information system is “fast approaching a crisis situation,” with “no concrete action to update and modernize Alberta’s access to information legislation.”

Toronto Star: How the freedom of information system often results in secrecy instead of transparency

Jennifer Pagliaro, April 18, 2019

Toronto City Hall Bureau reporter Jennifer Pagliaro relates her travails attempting to obtain two-and-a-half years’ worth of records regarding the Scarborough subway.

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Related Articles:

A response to The Toronto Star (and to “FOI reform” articles in general)

Published by Justin Petrillo

I have created the FOI Assist™ software to help Ontario’s provincial and municipal government institutions of all sizes track and respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. For most of my career I have been a lawyer, advising clients on commercial, intellectual property and FOI/privacy issues. From 2013 to 2015, I managed the FOI program for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee while serving as Legal Counsel to the Games. Prior to becoming a lawyer, I obtained a computer science degree and worked as a software developer at several well-known technology companies.

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