Minister’s Access to Information focus is better service amid calls for legislative overhaul

OTTAWA –

The federal minister responsible for the much-criticized access-to-information system says her focus is on improving service amid growing calls to go further and rewrite the transparency law.

In an interview today, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier says her priority is better administration of the Access to Information Act, not a legislative overhaul.

Fortier’s comments follow release this week of a House of Commons committee report in which opposition MPs recommend changes to the law to curb loopholes that prevent the release of information, and the imposition of penalties when responses to requests are late.

The federal access law allows people who pay $5 to request an array of government documents, but many say it is slow and ineffective.

The law has not been fully revamped since its introduction 40 years ago, and users complain of lengthy delays, heavily blacked-out documents or full denials in response to their applications.

Fortier says the government is emphasizing improvements to the online portal for making requests, enhanced recruitment and training of employees who handle applications and better guidance to federal agencies about the law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2023.