Category: Access to information

Feds Implement New ID Rules for Accessing Public Records

New regulations will now require Canadians who want to access public records to show “adequate identification” as defined by the federal government. Amendments to the Access to Information Act came into effect on July 5, enacted by Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. Federal departments and agencies will now determine what is approved identification for Canadians…


Public Servants Worked to Avoid Directly Answering MP’s Order Paper Questions: Internal Emails

Federal public servants worked to avoid giving direct answers to a Conservative MP’s written questions posed in order papers, according to internal emails, prompting outrage from opposition MPs. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner raised the issue in the House of Commons on June 15, saying she had obtained evidence through an Access to Information request showing…


Comptroller General Warns Federal CFOs to ‘Be Careful’ of Access Law

The Comptroller General of Canada advised federal chief financial officers (CFOs) to “be careful” what they wrote down as any record created may “find its way out” through Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests, a Commons committee heard on Feb. 8. Comptroller Roch Huppé, who is responsible for government-wide financial management, was testifying at the House…


Federal Government to Tighten Access to Information Regime, Streamline Fees

Citizens seeking to obtain government records may need to provide documents proving their identity, according to new regulations made public on Dec. 24 by the Treasury Board. “If the information contained in the request is insufficient to establish that the person making the request has a right of access under section 4 of the Act, the…


Revise Access to Information Law to Restrict Withholding Vital Information From Public: Canada’s Largest Federal Public Service Union

The federal government should revise the Access to Information (ATI) Act such that vital information that serves public interest can be released without any restrictions unless the release of them would cause undue harm to the country, says Canada’s largest federal public service union. In a submission to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)…


Canada Revenue Agency Discloses Long-Withheld Documents Linking High BC Home Prices to Millionaire Migrations

A secret study that connects high home prices in Vancouver to millionaire migration and possible tax cheating has finally been disclosed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)—five years after a freedom-of-information request was made. The access to information and privacy (ATIP) request was made by the South China Morning Post on Aug. 30, 2016, and received a…