News Summary and Comment:
Ben Godby’s post on Saturday, entitled Cover-ups 101 at the University of Ottawa, has resulted in a few comments being directed my way. This is great, as discussion and participation is one of this blog’s objectives. Unfortunately, though, nobody has yet been willing to make comments publicly; rather, the comments to date have been sent to me by e-mail. I encourage anyone who has something to say to make a comment on the blog. As long as it isn’t abusive or obscene, it will be posted.
On to the news. I only have three stories today, something that will undoubtedly change as Parliament resumes business. The first, and the only one worthy of new comment, comes from The Hill Times in Ottawa. It deals with the issue of interference with access to information requests in the federal government. This issue came to light a couple of weeks ago when it came to light that a ministerial staffer at Public Works and Government Services Canada ran down to the mail room to stop the release of what was seen as an embarrassing report. (It shouldn’t have been seen that way, as it dealt with the rather tame issue of vacancy rates in government-owned buildings, but that’s another story.)
The Office of the Information Commissioner has now opened an investigation on this and newer allegations which argue that there is systemic interference in the system. Apparently, Tory insiders are saying that this interference continues even after the government issued a stern warning to obey the law.
Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay is quoted as saying that she finds the situation more outrageous than the Parliamentary prorogation: “Canadians should be far more concerned about this, because it is so widespread, and goes far more deeply to the root of confidence in government,” she said. “Timely and full disclosure of information—real governmental transparency and accountability—are the very foundations of our democracy.”
Amen to that, even if the Liberals have a more than dubious record of their own in this regard. But will the Commissioner be able to do anything about it? It will be a test of the will and independence of the Interim Commissioner, Suzanne Legault. History does not offer much promise, though. I know of no instance where any sanction has been made against a public official for violating the Access to Information Act. My own experience with her office suggests some enthusiasm but a reluctance to dig deep or to hold senior managers in government to account. I invite others to submit their own experiences as comments.
See you Thursday.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Federal Information Commissioner Investigating Allegations of Systemic Interference
Compromise Sought in Afghan Detainee Controversy
Changes in Works after N.S. MLA Spending Scandal
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Federal Information Commissioner Investigating Allegations of Systemic Interference
Access czar investigating allegations of political interference
The Hill Times (Ottawa), March 1, 2010
Summary: Canada’s Access to Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault is investigating allegations of systemic violations of Access to Information laws by federal Conservatives as a result of a story in last week’s issue of The Hill Times, but Tory staffers also allege the interference continues despite the PMO’s edict to all political staffers to comply with the law.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Compromise Sought in Afghan Detainee Controversy
Grits willing to drop order to produce Afghan documents, want judicial inquiry
The Hill Times (Ottawa), March 1, 2010
Summary: Liberal MPs say they are willing to relent on an unprecedented House of Commons motion ordering the government to produce secret documents about prisoner transfers in Afghanistan if Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to a judicial inquiry into the controversy.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Changes in Works after N.S. MLA Spending Scandal
The NDP’s new problem: a scandal all its own
The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), February 24, 2010
Summary: Tomorrow is a big day in Nova Scotia politics, even if it’s way overdue. A singular event will end an era, a tainted era in which politicians schemed in secret and rewarded themselves in ways they probably now regret. It’s a big day because for the first time, the House of Assembly’s secretive internal economy board will hold a public meeting. (column)
