Question Period Note: Access to Information

What is being done to improve transparency through access to information?

• Transparency is a fundamental principal of democracy, and an area where more can and must be done.
• We are committed to launching a review of the Access to Information Act this year, working with key stakeholders and federal institutions.
• At the same time, under the Government’s Trust and Transparency Strategy, we continue to advance other initiatives to enhance access to information.
• Work is advancing on the declassification of historical records and the modernization of systems, including the use of AI, so departments can more efficiently respond to information requests.

The Government of Canada is committed to the core principles of transparency, accountability and participation, which are integral to a healthy, functioning democracy, and to maintaining public trust.

In line with the government’s commitment to transparency, the 2024 federal budget proposed
$84M in funding for TBS and LAC to maintain the ATIP regime and expedite requests. Some funding for TBS and LAC will be devoted specifically to advance the work on declassification and disclosure and support other key actions.
On May 29, 2024, the President of the Treasury Board announced the publication of the Government of Canada Trust and Transparency Strategy, which sets out a whole-of- government blueprint to strengthen public trust in federal institutions.
The Trust and Transparency Strategy is made up of two key pillars: the Access to Information Modernization Action Plan (ATI MAP) and the National Action Plan on Open Government:
ATI MAP (2023-2026)
In an appearance before ETHI on April 18, 2023, the previous President stated her intention to publish an action plan that addressed the 21 conclusions of the 2022 ATI Review Report to Parliament, which highlighted several areas where administrative or operational improvements were needed. In May 2024, the ATI MAP was published in response to this commitment and addresses these opportunities for improvement.
In line with the 2022 ATI Review Report to Parliament, the ATI MAP continues to focus on the same three strategic goals: improving services to Canadians, enhancing trust and transparency and advancing Indigenous reconciliation.
The ATI MAP sets out a series of actions to be undertaken over the next three years to address the most pressing administrative and operational challenges facing the access to information regime, including:

o facilitating timely processing of ATI requests;
o strengthening the ATI workforce;
o helping counter misinformation and disinformation; and
o strengthening transparency and access to information for all users of the regime, including Indigenous Peoples.

Policy Guidance on the Disclosure of Historical Records
In one of the first key actions taken in support of the ATI MAP, TBS simultaneously published its Policy Guidance on the Disclosure of Historical Records in May 2024.
The Policy Guidance was developed in collaboration with several federal institutions to enable a more efficient and consistent approach to the review and potential disclosure of historical

records. In particular, the Policy Guidance identified recommended non-statutory time thresholds to help federal institutions apply discretionary exemptions under the ATIA.
The Policy Guidance also complements broader, ongoing policy work examining declassification, the exploration of new tools to facilitate request processing (such as AI- assisted review) and supports work in preparation for the next review of the ATIA, to be launched in June 2025.
National Action Plan (2025-2029)
The National Action Plan (NAP) on Open Government aims to leverage the principles of open government to solve real world problems of importance to Canadians, and ultimately make the Government of Canada more transparent, accountable and participatory.
As part of the Open Government Partnership, Canada has published five NAPs and is currently advancing its 6th NAP.
To ensure federal government institutions remain responsive to the needs of Canadians, the public, civil society, academia and the private sector are provided with the opportunity to co- create commitments related to transparency, accountability and public participation and influence government policy and decision-making.

Together, these two key pillars support the achievement of the objectives of the Trust and Transparency Strategy; namely, better access to government data and information, providing information and tools to hold government to account, and making it easier for Canadians to be more involved and engaged in decision-making processes. The Government of Canada has committed to report on progress in implementing this strategy through a public-facing annual year-in-review report.

Review of the ATIA
The next mandated review of the ATIA is scheduled to be launched no later than June 20, 2025 and will give the Government of Canada the opportunity to explore ways to continue strengthening the ATI regime and address conclusions that would require legislative change, including those areas of the ATIA identified by Indigenous partners as requiring alignment to meet the obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). Under the UNDA, the Government must, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, “take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the Declaration.”

None