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Canada Access to Information Act changes spark legal concerns
Lawyers and advocacy groups in Canada are expressing concern over proposed amendments to the Access to Information Act introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. A primary concern is the potential restriction on accessing "ephemeral" documents, such as emails, which critics argue could significantly limit transparency.
Andrew Koltun of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers’ Association stated that excluding such records is "antithetical to the purpose of the act," noting that the process behind decisions is often as vital as the results. Similarly, the Quebec Environmental Law Centre (CQDE) warned that the definition of ephemeral documents could provide leeway for the government to restrict access.
Additional concerns include proposed extensions to processing deadlines based on institutional capacity, such as staffing levels and budgets. Advocates argue that the effectiveness of this quasi-constitutional right should not depend on an organization's budgetary decisions. Currently, groups like Vigilance OGM report significant delays in receiving information, with some requests taking years to process.
Entities
Canada · Canadian Immigration Lawyers’ Association · Mark Carney · Quebec Environmental Law Centre · Vigilance OGM
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The government proposes to extend processing deadlines for access-to-information requests based on institutional capacity, such as staffing and budgets. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The law stipulates that a government department has 30 days to respond to a request. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Lawyers and organizations working on environmental issues and migrants' rights have expressed concern regarding proposed changes to the Access to Information Act. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Vigilance OGM has been waiting five years for a response to one request. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The government proposes to define which documents are deemed 'official' and covered by the law. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Attorney Céleste Brazeau Houle argued that the ephemeral nature of documents could provide leeway to restrict access. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Thibault Rehn of Vigilance OGM noted that processing times for requests have been increasing. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Immigration lawyer Andrew Koltun stated that the exclusion of 'ephemeral' documents is antithetical to the purpose of the act. battlefordsnow.com · looniepolitics.com · www.brandonsun.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com