I totally agree, and article 2 of the act expressly says so. The act is intended to complement and not replace existing procedures for access to government information, and it is not intended to limit in any way access to the type of government information that is normally available to the general public. Unfortunately, the act has become the default position of government and bureaucracy. You hear it all the time: “You want this document? File an ATIP request.”
As I said earlier, I find it somewhat disconcerting that parliamentarians, in their duties, have to use the statute to get information. You have questions on the order paper as well, but it seems to me that the default position ought to be disclosure, and where there's a dispute, turn to the statute.