{"id":77,"date":"2017-12-31T18:16:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-01T01:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/arst516\/?p=77"},"modified":"2018-01-14T00:29:31","modified_gmt":"2018-01-14T07:29:31","slug":"from-an-f-to-an-a-for-the-canadian-federal-governments-access-to-information-system-by-lydia-huey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/arst516\/?p=77","title":{"rendered":"From an \u2018F\u2019 to an \u2018A\u2019 for the Canadian Federal Government\u2019s Access-to-Information System <\/em> by Lydia Huey <\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lydia Huey (Author Provided)<\/p><\/div>\n

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An \u2018F\u2019 for the Canadian Government\u2019s ATI System<\/b><\/p>\n

This fall 2017, Canada\u2019s Liberal federal government\u2019s access-to-information (ATI) system was audited by News Media Canada. This national association, which represents Canada\u2019s news media industry, gave the federal government\u2019s ATI system an \u2018F\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Links Related to This Blog<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Canada\u2019s access-to-information system has worsened under [Justin] Trudeau[\u2019s] government: report<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Trudeau needs to deliver on his access-to-information promises<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Information watchdog ‘disappointed’ with Liberal access-to-info bill<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Justice Laws Website of the Canadian government<\/span><\/a> (Canada\u2019s Access to Information Act)<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to information in the federal government<\/span><\/a> (Webpage that explains how users can request access to the Canadian government\u2019s records)<\/span><\/p>\n

ARMA International\u2019s Generally Accepted Record-Keeping Principles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15489<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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The Audit<\/b><\/p>\n

News Media Canada sent more than 400 requests to all levels of Canadian government. At the federal level, led by Justin Trudeau, only 25% of the requests were answered within 30 days. 33% of the requests did not receive a response in almost four months, or almost the entire audit period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s Access to Information Act requires the response time of ATI requests to be within 30 days. Otherwise, an agency must provide a valid reason for extending the length of time. <\/span><\/p>\n

The audit showed that the government\u2019s performance was worse than during some years of Stephen Harper\u2019s government! <\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s in an \u2018F\u2019?<\/b><\/p>\n

This failing grade demonstrates that the Trudeau government lacks responsibility to Canadians. ATI requests were not responded to promptly due to inadequate administration. Some responses did not even occur before almost three times the time required to by law! <\/span><\/p>\n

The time lag would not allow the public to keep the government accountable. People would not have access to the information that would give evidence of the government\u2019s honesty in their operations. The public would not have the evidence to back up claims of improper Canadian governance. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Trying to Shine<\/b><\/p>\n

Trudeau\u2019s government is currently putting forward Bill C-58 to improve the Access to Information Act. The Liberal Party\u2019s Bill was put forward by Treasury Board President Scott Brison, who says that it is still a work in progress. The bill has both strengths and weaknesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

A strength of the Bill is that it allows for more governmental public accountability and transparency. The Bill accomplishes this claim by stating that the Freedom of Information Act shall be reviewed every five years. <\/span><\/p>\n

Another strength is granting the information commissioner authority to order the release of the Canadian government\u2019s records. This grants someone else the power to keep the government accountable.<\/span><\/p>\n

A weakness of the Bill claimed by the opposing Canadian Parties Members of Parliaments\u2019 is that it does not address loopholes that allow federal agencies to refuse certain ATI requests. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Bill does not include certain departments of the government, including the offices of ministers and the Prime Minister\u2019s Office. Government officials can refuse ATI requests if they are \u201cfrivolous or vexatious\u201d. They can also refuse an information request if they are meant to be a secret: a \u201ccabinet confidence\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet some information is kept secret for good reason, such as for national security. It is doubtful, however, that all the information they may call \u201ccabinet confidence\u201d would cause a breach of national security.<\/span><\/p>\n

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To Get an \u2018A\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

The Canadian federal government\u2019s ATI system needs to be improved. To improve it, they can adjust their current records management (RM) system, make changes to the Bill, and allot more resources to RM.<\/span><\/p>\n

Improving the government\u2019s current RM system will improve the ATI system. It will make the government\u2019s system more efficient by disposing of unnecessary records. Improved organization will also make the RM system easier to navigate by increasing the speed of retrieval of records.<\/span><\/p>\n

The government can also increase transparency by making changes to the Liberal Bill. They should allot more resources and funding for records management and archives. Additional resources would allow an increase in the amount of staff workers working with records, which would increase the speed and extent at which record controls (such as retention schedules) could be implemented to improve the RM system.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fix-It Trudeau! The Record Management System<\/b><\/p>\n

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