Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Thank you. Our group is not arguing that the substance of cabinet deliberations should be made public, but the Information Commissioner should be allowed to review these records to see if they've been properly classified or if they lie outside that. As in most Canadian provinces, cabinet documents are not excluded from the Information Commissioner's review, and that's what we're seeking.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I could add the model in Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain of the public broadcasters being under their FOI acts. It seems to work well, and if Mr. John Reid, the commissioner, would rule wisely on these issues to protect journalistic integrity....

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Our top two priorities would be, one, to give the commissioner order-making power, and second, to have all the crown corporations, foundations, quasi-governmental bodies covered under the act as soon as possible. If this amendment can be made to the Accountability Act, we would be happy.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I believe an “injuries to harms test” could be added as well.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I'd like to very briefly note that I have a document from 1987 called Open and Shut: Enhancing the Right to Know and the Right to Privacy, which is almost two decades old, which recommends many of these same points that we and the others have recommended for so long. And if a backbencher, Reform-Tory MP, Myron Thompson, in 1997 proposed the crowns, they could be done quicker perhaps.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Yes, briefly, Mr. Owen, about order-making power. We are aware that Mr. Reid advises against order-making power, but we respectfully disagree. The model works well in B.C. and in the four provinces where it helps to avoid litigation. For example, the Prime Minister's Office has mounted more than twenty lawsuits against the Information Commissioner on various issues.