We are working very hard right now on the processes to make sure that we limit the amount of time we spend investigating. We are trying to deal with complaints as quickly and as informally as possible. What will really help us is to receive fewer complaints. This can only happen if the government as a whole provides information to Canadians on a voluntary basis, without waiting for them to make access to information requests.
I will be submitting a special report shortly on access to information requests for Immigration Canada. This study has opened our eyes to the question of whether the access to information system is the appropriate platform for people to use to obtain information. Let me clarify that this is not just about Immigration Canada, but the government as a whole. There is no question that departments can provide information on a voluntary basis instead of waiting for requests. In fact, the access to information process should be a formal process to obtain more information after first consulting with the agencies.
In principle, government information should already be transparent and voluntary. This would certainly help the whole access to information system. It would reduce the number of complaints to my office and the number of access to information requests made to departments.