Bill would boost information czar’s powers, backpedals on ministers’ offices
OTTAWA — The federal information watchdog would have the power to order release of government records under newly tabled legislation.
But the Liberal bill unveiled Monday doesn’t close loopholes that often keep files locked away and it backpedals on a campaign promise to fully apply the Access to Information Act to ministerial offices.
The legislation would place the burden of showing why a record must remain secret on the shoulders of the government or others who object, giving the information commissioner a stronger hand.
Currently the commissioner, an ombudsman for users of the access law, has to argue the case for release of government files.