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
Canada’s Access to Information Law Falls Short of International Best Practices
by Max Binks-Collier, Writer and Graduate Student, Ryerson University’s School of Journalism
July 28 , 2019
Call for nominations – 2019 Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy
The Canadian Association of Journalists, the Centre for Free Expression, News Media Canada and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression are inviting nominations for the 2019 Code of Silence awa
Three Trudeau ministers among those stalling access to information requests
June 17, 2019 - The ministers overseeing Health, Justice and Innovation departments must do a better job of living up to the prime minister's promises of transparency.
Why the secrecy on this "expert" centre?
June 13, 2019 - Public Safety has quietly set up a centre for expertise to assist security and intelligence departments in the responsible use of the Security of Canada Information Disclosure Act, known as SCIDA. Yet vitually no one knows about the centre, or what it is doing. This is worrisome.
The Judges Win, Bill C-58 Gets to the Top of The Senate List for Quick Passage
By Ken Rubin
April 29, 2019 - Judging from the Senators' orchestrated recent cave-in removing the public from getting individual judges expenses, Canada's access to information act is well on its way to being made irrelevant.
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