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
How is the public to know? When regulators lose sight of their public role
Are Canadian regulatory agencies allowing themselves to be captured by those they regulate – Health Canada by drug companies, Transport Canada by the airlines and railways?
Police Surveillance and Civil Liberties
The growing number of police technologies may serve legitimate police purposes but raise serious questions about civil liberties and privacy.
WARNING! How the Secrets of Body Care and Cleaning Products Impact You Health
Chemicals in personal care and cleaning products you use regularly have been linked to fertility problems, birth defects, cancer, asthma and respiratory disorders, and hormone disruption.
Battling Secrecy
Ken Rubin will share his experiences and expertise in this talk – bringing to life with examples of what access to information can do, what barriers journalists and the public face, and how to over
Why the Secrecy? Police Conduct and the Public’s Right to Know
Should reports of investigations of police behaviour be made public? How should the competing interests in transparency, accountability, privacy and confidentiality be dealt with?
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