Retrenchment and freedom of information: recent experience under federal, Ontario and British Columbia law

作者：Alasdair S. Roberts · 发表于：Canadian Public Administration · 年份：1999 · DOI：10.1111/j.1754-7121.1999.tb02035.x · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Ombudsman and Human Rights、Regulation and Compliance Studies、Criminal Law and Evidence

Abstract: A large majority of Canada's federal, provincial, territorial and local governments are now required to comply with freedom of information (foi) laws. Some critics have argued that long‐standing problems of non‐compliance have been aggravated during the recent period of public‐sector retrenchment. However, good evidence of non‐compliance has been lacking. In this study, statistical reports produced by government institutions are used to assess recent trends in the administration of the federal Access to Information Act and Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Limited data are also used to study British Columbia's foi law. Data suggest that policy decisions in these three jurisdictions have led to a weakening of foi laws. Three reforms are proposed: better reporting by departments and agencies on their handling of foi requests; a change in the enforcement strategy traditionally used by federal and provincial information commissioners; and a reconsideration of methods used to levy fees on individuals and organizations who make foi requests. Sommaire: Au Canada, la vaste majorité des gouvemements fédéral, provinciaux, territoriaux et locaux doivent aujourd'hui se conformer aux lois sur l'accès à l'information (laX). Selon certains, les problèmes de non‐conformité, qui ne datent pas d'hier, ont été aggravés lors des récentes coupures subies par le secteur public. Les études sur la non‐conformité manquent cependant. Dans le cadre de cette étude...