Watchdog rejects idea of narrowing information law (opens original article in a new tab)

Canada's information commissioner opposes a federal proposal to narrow the Access to Information Act, warning it could reduce transparency by excluding government records from public scrutiny.

• Information commissioner Caroline Maynard opposes a federal proposal to narrow the Access to Information Act's scope by redefining 'record' as 'official records'
• Maynard warns that redefining 'record' could exclude many government-held records from public access and reduce transparency
• The proposal aims to improve efficiency by removing transitory records like routine communications from the act's reach
• Maynard argues that excluding transitory records risks shielding relevant information from scrutiny