Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners Call for Open Government

WHITEHORSE, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - Governments at all levels in Canada should embrace open government principles to enhance transparency and accountability. In a joint resolution issued today, federal and all provincial and territorial Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners are endorsing and promoting these principles while calling on their respective governments to demonstrate their commitment to a culture of openness.

"Open Government is about promoting a new way of viewing the role of government and the participation of citizens in it," says Yukon Ombudsman and Information and Privacy Commissioner, Tracy-Anne McPhee. "Knowing what kind of information Canadians want and making it proactively available is a fundamental feature of an open, democratic and transparent government."

The Open Government Resolution is the product of the annual meeting of Canada's Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners from federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada, being held in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Around the world, many governments have recognized that providing better and free access to their information promotes citizen engagement, instils trust in government and ultimately results in a more open and responsive democratic government.

The resolution is available on the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada's website, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's website.

For further information:

For media interview requests with federal, provincial or territorial Commissioners, please contact:

On site in Whitehorse:

Heather Ormerod
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Telephone in Whitehorse (August 31 - September 2): [phone]

Off site media contacts:

Yukon
Name: Danielle Noel
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Name: Francine Charbonneau
Tel: [phone]
Cell: [phone]

Alberta
Name: Wayne Wood
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

British Columbia
Name: Sue Grimm 
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

Manitoba
Name: Gail Perry
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

New Brunswick
Name: Anne Bertrand, Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner
Tel: [phone]  

Newfoundland and Labrador
Name: Robynn Arnold
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

Northwest Territories
Name: Elaine Keenan Bengts, Information and Privacy Commissioner
Tel: [phone]

Nova Scotia
Name: Dulcie McCallum
Tel: [phone]

Ontario
Name: Angus Fisher
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

Prince Edward Island
Name: Mary-Lynn Smith
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]

Québec
Name: Alain Gingras
Tel: [phone]

Saskatchewan
Name: Gary Dickson, Information and Privacy Commissioner
Tel: [phone]

Nunavut
Name: Elaine Keenan Bengts, Information and Privacy Commissioner
Tel: [phone]