The restrictions placed on communication with the outside world mean that access-to-information is one of the only ways the few journalists covering prisons can unearth the realities of people incarcerated in provincial and federal institutions. Experts explain what that costs us and how to break through the bureaucracy Continue Reading Why we know so little about Canadian prisons
Public interest researcher Ken Rubin on what returned access requests show about the state of government duplicity and transparency in Canada Continue Reading Spinning access to information in an age of misinformation
New research published in Facts and Frictions finds that Canada’s federal Access to Information is “a broken system rife with practical and ideological hurdles,” causing some journalists to use it only as a last resort and others to advocate for reform Continue Reading Canadian Access to Information and Journalism: Obstacles and Opportunities
Despite ‘hitting a bureaucratic wall,’ journalists explain the importance of challenging hospital media restrictions Continue Reading ‘People just need proof:’ How health-care media barriers and government obstruction shaped the story of the pandemic
In the course of investigating complaints, information commissioner Caroline Maynard noticed vulnerabilities to Canada’s access regime, some a direct result of the pandemic and others that have simply been worsened by COVID-19 Continue Reading Slipshod practices might mean gaps in Canada’s COVID-19 record, info watchdog says
It’s time for the government to take off the mask that disguises and robs us of our public right to know. Trustworthy and revitalized government requires effective access and more public scrutiny Continue Reading Honey, the pandemic shrunk transparency
Presented with the Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Contributions, citizen researcher and Ryerson Centre for Free Expression senior fellow chronicles public impact struggles in health, human rights and more Continue Reading Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom honouree Ken Rubin highlights his top investigative probes
What does it take to publish investigative journalism using access to information and privacy requests? Continue Reading ATIPs from A to Z
The bot developed by Laurent Bastien requests already filed access to information requests from the federal government. Continue Reading ATIP Twitter bot aims for access reform
Some of my most challenging and rewarding access to information work has involved filing access requests with the consent of whistleblowers and individuals under tremendous duress. By way of background, Canada lacks strong whistleblower protection laws that give public (or private) sector workers free speech rights, adequate recourse to the courts, sufficient remedies against retaliation…