Government & Corporate Transparency
The Issue
Canadians’ right of access to information held by governments and public agencies is embarrassingly inadequate. Internationally, the quality of our access to information law ranks 59th out of 102 countries. The implementation of the law makes matters even worse – often imposing excessive delays, high costs, and significant censorship. Even more limited is the public’s right of access to information about the decisions and practices of the corporate sector that increasingly shape every aspect of our lives.
Why It Matters
Healthy democracy depends on an informed public with ready access to the information it needs to engage in effective political decision-making.
Our Work
The Centre for Free Expression works to promote greater government and corporate transparency through public education and advocacy for better right to know laws and practices.
Resources
CFE Senior Fellow Ken Rubin wins the Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Contributions to press freedom and freedom of information.
The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom has named Ken Rubin, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Free Expression, as its 2018-19 recipient of the Spencer Moore Award for Lifetim
Massive Secrecy Inroads and Barriers to Access Near Approval in the Senate
By Ken Rubin
April 1, 2019 - The Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee is winding its way, clause by clause through Bill C-58. But they have already approved the most divisive change to the Access to Information Act.
Another year, more government secrecy
By Ken Rubin
January 28, 2019 - The new year brings with it at least four basic problems that put transparency under threat.
Problem one: “pro-active” sanitized data and propaganda dominates Bill C-58
When is a Mayor Not a Mayor? Public vs. Private in Twitter Blocking
There’s been a ceasefire in the “legal Twitter war” between Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and three people who sued him for blocking them from his Twitter account. The three plaintiffs argued that in bl
By Micheal Vonn
Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy
List of Recipients