BC FIPA has made its submission on the Federal Accountability Act, Bill C-2 to the committee reviewing the legislation. BC FIPA offers 10 recommendations regarding the Act, including increasing the powers of the Information Commissioner, expanding the coverage of the Access to Information Act, creating a duty to document, strengthening public interest provisions, increasing protection […]

Following an outcry from FIPA and other voices for government transparency, legislation that would have greatly restricted the public’s access to government information has been deferred to the fall session of the BC Legislature. Happily, it may never re-appear in the same form. In a surprise move, and citing concerns that were raised, Government House […]

FIPA and the BC Civil Liberties Association have joined forces to oppose a blatant move by the BC Liberals to assert strict Cabinet control over future public inquiries. On April 24, the BC government introduced Bill 23, a revamped Public Inquiry Act, which radically changes the rules for inquiries. Historically, the law required public inquiry […]

Canada’s information Commissioner says that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done a complete about-face, introducing plans that would increase government secrecy after campaigning on openness. The proposed Accountability Act, now being debated in the House of Commons, will actually make government less accountable when it comes to making information available to Canadians, Information Commissioner John […]

The BC government introduced two bills this week that, if passed, will do enormous damage to public access to information in British Columbia. Bill 23, the Public Inquiry Act, will make significant changes to public inquiries. Historically, the law required public inquiry reports to be publicly tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Under the new act, […]

Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer reports that the B.C. Liberals have rebuffed two requests to include the $100-million New Relationship Trust under freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation. Both requests came from David Loukidelis, the province’s information and privacy commissioner. “We are not inclined to do what he has asked,” said Tom Christensen, […]

The Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is deeply disappointed in the new Conservative government’s failure to deliver on its election promises to increase federal government transparency. The Conservative platform contained eight firm commitments to “Strengthen Access to Information legislation” (See below). In the Federal Accountability Act tabled in Parliament today, only one of […]

FIPA has joined with a York University professor and the Canadian Association of University Teachers in a legal battle for access to the records of corporations created by universities in BC. The issue is currently under review by BC Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis. Universities in BC are covered by the Freedom of Information […]

The federal Conservatives appear to be back-pedaling on their promise to open up the inner workings of government to scrutiny by reforming the Access to Information Act. The Federal Accountability Act, which is expected to be presented on Tuesday as Harper administration’s first legislation, was to include a major overhaul and update of the Access […]

In response to an FOI request from the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, the BC government has quoted a fee of $172,947.50 for access to a list of BC’s top polluters that until 2001 was made public at no charge. Randy Christensen of the non-profit Sierra Legal Defence Fund was forced to file a freedom of […]

“Transparency does not guarantee accountability, but it makes it more possible,” Justice John Gomery wrote in his final report, released on February 1. FIPA applauds his call to make government more transparent and we urge Parliament to enact his recommendations swiftly in the upcoming legislative session. The last major progress in transparency was made in […]

FIPA has commissioned BC’s first-ever formal survey of people who have made requests for information under the province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The survey is designed to determine whether it has become easier or more difficult to obtain information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP Act) […]