Access to Info 101

[Mark Weiler]

Hey Everyone,

Reading the discussions about the long census, I'd like to give an "Access to Information 101" lesson for those who are interested. I think it can add to the discussion about the long census.

*** STORY ***
We were all living in a city called Government Ville. Every time we went into a building in Government Ville we'd find a tightly closed door. "What's going on?" we all asked at some point.  Sure, occasionally, a squeak behind a door would tell us something and maybe eventually that door would be opened. But soon we'd all find a new door closed. Sigh.

Time passed and then something happened. We're still not sure what. Suddenly most of the buildings in Government Ville became something like public libraries. The vast majority of the doors lost all their hinges and locks. "What's going on?" we thought.

Time passed and we kept asking "What's going on?" "What's going on?" "What's going on?"

Then someone, we're not sure who, said "Send me the document about 'What's going on?'".

"How odd!", we all thought. "That's the 'what's going on question?' within a statement to be sent a document."
 
But then we heard a CRASH! A door had fallen.

We all heard it again, "Send me the document about 'what's going on?'". A moment passed. CRASH! Another door fell.

Again and again we heard it: "Send me the document about 'what's going on?'". CRASH! CRASH! Doors began to fall all around!

And what did we see when we stepped through the doors?

"Ohhh THAT's what's going on!"


*** BACKGROUND ***
Canada's freedom of information legislation the Access to Information Act was passed on Canada Day, July 1, 1982. It became enforced one year later. It applies to hundreds of departments in the executive branch of the Government of Canada. (Whoever helped passed this law are probably still alive and deserve our applause!). It can be used to access most records held by government departments.

*** HOW TO USE IT? ***
If you want records that help you know what's going on with the long census, here's a way to use ATI.

1. Identify the public body that has the records you think will help you understand what's going on.
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/atip-aiprp/apps/coords/index-eng.asp

2. Write a letter

Let's say we think Stats Canada has records.

"Statistics Canada
Philip Giles
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
R.H. Coats Building
120 Parkdale Avenue, 25th Floor, Section B
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0T6

Dear Mr. Giles,

As per section 6 of the Access to Information Act, send me [list the documents].

Please find attached a $5.00 cheque payable to the Receiver General of Canada.

Thank you,"

We might pick another organization, such as the Ministry of Environment too, and send a related letter.

3. Mail it and wait.
The government will have 30 days to send you the documents.

*** WANT TO LEARN MORE? ***
Right to Know Week 2010 is the international week to increase public awareness about freedom of information legislation. It will be hosted Sept 27 to Oct 1 this year. Within Canada, events will be hosted in Ottawa and BC and even more (ask your provincial Office of Information Commissioner).  It's a time to stretch our imaginations, to play with this thing we call "Freedom of Information Legislation".  And to do that a little music might help! Here's some songs I've collected from people. It's the songs they associate with freedom of information: http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/drupal/node/18

Have your own ideas about Freedom of Information Music? You can suggest them here: http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/drupal/node/48

And that's "Access to Information 101"


Mark Weiler
www.opengovernmentrecords.net