Tag: government transparency

Transparency in Government Investments Important to Avoid ‘Taxpayer Blowback,’ Says Minister Ng at WEF Panel

Maintaining transparency in federal government investments in private businesses is important to avoid “taxpayer blowback”, says International Trade Minister Mary Ng, who made the comments while taking part in a World Economic Forum (WEF) panel discussion. “Canadians care because this is about growing the middle class. It’s about growing jobs. It’s about new, innovative, intangible companies in…


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)…


DeSantis Files Lawsuit Against FDA for Delaying Drug Program

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—For 630 days a warehouse in Lakeland has sat vacant—waiting on a shipment of drugs from Canada that never came. Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Aug. 31 that he “has waited long enough” and is filing suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to “put an end to” delays. DeSantis told a crowd…


Florida Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal on Textbooks Being Used in Florida School District

On March 18, the Florida Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal filed by the Collier County School Board over a lower court ruling stating the school board violated the state’s Sunshine Laws during its textbook selection process in the 2016–2017 school year. Attorneys for the parents’ rights organization that filed the initial lawsuit assert…


Florida Supreme Court Ruling Suggests All Textbooks Being Used in One Florida School District Are Illegal

On March 18, the Florida Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal filed by the Collier County School Board over a lower court ruling stating the school board violated the state’s Sunshine Laws during its textbook selection process in the 2016–2017 school year. Attorneys for the parents’ rights organization that filed the initial lawsuit assert…


Ernst Bill Would Create an Executive Branch Transparency Czar in the White House

Executive branch officials who fail to follow federal laws guaranteeing public access to government documents would have to answer to a newly created Director of Openness in Government (DOG) in the White House under a proposal introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). “Iowans, and all Americans, have a right to know what’s happening in Washington,…


Ernst Bill Would Create Executive Branch Transparency Czar in the White House

Executive branch officials who fail to follow federal laws guaranteeing public access to government documents would have to answer to a newly created director of openness in government (DOG) in the White House under a proposal introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). “Iowans, and all Americans, have a right to know what’s happening in Washington,…


Scrutinizing Government Increasingly Difficult, Say Watchdogs

Canadian governments are more talk than action when it comes to transparency and accountability, say some in watchdog organizations. Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch says he is still waiting for the “open by default” government the Trudeau Liberals promised prior to their election in 2015. “The Trudeau government usually misleads in their initial response, and…