Canada

Federal Jurisdiction

The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) celebrates the rights of Canadians to a transparent and open government by taking part in the national Right to Know Week, from September 28th to October 2nd, 2009.

Since its creation in 1983, the Office ensures that the rights conferred by the Access to Information Act are respected, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability across the federal government. Through thorough and fair investigations, as well as specific initiatives, such as Right to Know Week, the Office promotes the benefits of access to information.

During the course of the week, we will build on the theme of renewal by not only looking at how the federal access to information regime is performing, but also by breathing new life into the entire regime and eliciting the interest of various stakeholders such as students and young professionals. The week will also offer a special occasion to focus on emerging democracies and how crucial ATI rights are to their development. The value of ATI rights will be central in all discussions, as will the importance of transparency in the digital era.