![[Democracy Watch Logo]](dw.gif) |
![[Op-ed]](oped.gif) |
| |
|
             Français |
Set out below is a letter to the editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher which was published in the February 28, 2009 issue of the National Post (and also on TorontoStar.ca, GlobeandMail.com and CBC.ca on February 27, 2009) Federal Conservatives would prefer that everyone forget their failure to keep almost all of their 2006 open government election promises, as the Information Commissioner has highlighted in his recent report. To summarize, the Conservatives promised: to expand the coverage of the Access to Information Act to all government (and government-funded) institutions; to document all government actions and decisions, and; to give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of any information if it is in the public interest and won't cause harm. (To see Democracy Watch's December 2008 Report Card on the Conservatives' 29 broken promises, click here) These changes (along with giving the Commissioner the power to order government institutions to clean up their information management systems), would help solve all of the federal government secrecy problems. Opposition parties can make these changes because of the minority government situation. On Wednesday, federal NDP MP Pat Martin re-introduced his bill to change the Act in many of these ways, and the Bloc Quebecois is generally supportive of strengthening the Act. The big question is how the Ignatieff-led Liberals will vote on the bill (they have given no indication yet, so far just criticizing the Conservatives for excessive secrecy). Government secrecy is a root cause of waste and abuse of people and communities across the country. It is in the public interest in every way for federal politicians to work together, finally, to pass a bill that effectively opens up the federal government. Sincerely, Duff Conacher, Coordinator Democracy Watch |