Posted Fall of 2021
We need your help to send the Premier and his Minister a message!
On November 25th, the BC legislative session is scheduled to end. The Government will either use its majority to ram Bill 22 through or it will remain on the Order Paper until the start of the new legislative session in February 2022.
Bill 22 opens the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act for substantive changes for the first time in over a decade. Unfortunately, if passed, this Bill will undermine access to information and make public bodies less transparent. It is a step backwards for openness and accountability, and a missed opportunity to improve the information rights of British Columbians.
This government appears so desperate to hide their secrets they are willing to short-circuit the work of the special legislative committee responsible for reviewing the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), avoid public consultation, and put up more barriers for people seeking access to information. They are abandoning prior commitments to improve government accountability and eroding the democratic process by making it harder for everyone – concerned citizens, experienced researchers, and you – to get the facts rather than spin.
If this majority government rams through Bill 22 , it will impact the citizens of British Columbia now, haunt us into the future, and set a dangerous precedent across Canada.
Our message is simple: Transparency matters to all of us. Stop Bill 22.
We created the form below. An email address is necessary. We’ve suggested some text you may want to use but you can edit it (please be respectful). Once you are ready, you can hit submit. The email is sent to the Premier’s Office, Minister Lisa Beare and CC’d to the email you entered. FIPA does not store any of this information on our website. The offices you sent the message to are currently subject to FIPPA.
You could also send messages to NDP MLAs. as well as the Government House Leader, Hon. Mike Farnworth.
Our Message to Premier Horgan and Minister Lisa Beare.
Transparency matters to all of us. Stop Bill 22.
We have shared democratic values and the fundamental need to increase the transparency of public bodies by reducing barriers and improving access to information. Your proposed amendments in Bill 22 fail to do this.
You said you were going to do something better. I’m starting to doubt whether you are putting people first and question whether I can trust you and your mandate letters.
I’m asking you to:
- Withdraw this Bill
- Recognize the role of all-party special committee and allow it to complete its work, including an open consultation process
- Commit, on record, to introduce comprehensive amendments to FIPPA that reflect the recommendations of past and current special committees.
Please help me regain trust in public bodies by being more transparent.