We have an access unit that works very hard to convince the government or the departments concerned to release information. These individuals apply the law to try to encourage disclosure of information. Some officials are more reluctant, however. We'd like ministers, deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers to give permission to disclose, to delegate to public servants their authority to disclose information, and invite or encourage them to disclose information.
For example, when one deputy minister I've spoken to write briefing notes, they circle information that is already public and should be disclosed immediately. That way, people use their authority to release information and eliminate the need for review.
However, we often see the exact opposite happening: When looking at a document, people think about the information they can't disclose, rather than what they can.
We want institutional leaders to encourage transparency. We want that message to be clear, so that people aren't afraid to disclose information.