Information and privacy commissioner raps changes
In his first and last annual report, the Yukon's information and privacy commissioner has criticized the government's amendments to the Access to Information legislation, calling them disappointing.
In his first and last annual report, the Yukon's information and privacy commissioner has criticized the government's amendments to the Access to Information legislation, calling them disappointing.
Tim Koepke was appointed to the position in April 2012.
He announced his resignation, effective May 1, in February, after recommending the position be made full-time.
In his report, Koepke said the government's amendments, which passed into law in December 2012, compromise "the spirit of access to information which underpins the act.”
"I recommended that the proposed amendments would be better dealt with as part of the 2015 review of the act when all suggested revisions could be dealt with in a comprehensive review,” he wrote.
Jan Stick, the NDP's ATIPP critic, raised the issue of the legislation's 2015 review Wednesday in the legislature.
"Freedom of information is the oxygen that democracy breathes,” said Stick.
"The purpose of the act to is make public bodies more accountable to the public and to protect personal privacy.”
Stick highlighted that last year's amendments were pushed through the house by the Yukon Party's majority government without public consultation.
"The government received no mandate from the public to restrict information, and the public must be given an opportunity to provide their views,” said Stick.
"Will the minister agree to move forward with a full public review of ways to improve the operation of this important legislation instead of waiting until 2015?” she asked Highways and Public Works Minister Wade Istchenko.
The minister responded: "In 2015, I'm going to get back to the member opposite. When we review it, we will consult, Mr. Speaker.”
According to the minister, access to information requests increased two-fold from 2011-2012, reaching 840 in 2012-2013, up to mid-March this year.
The majority 70 per cent of those requests were directed at personal information, 30 per cent regarded program information.
Sixty-one per cent were responded to within 30 days, compared to 67 per cent last year, he said.
Comments (1)
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bobby bitman on Apr 4, 2013 at 10:55 am
It would be illuminating to know who were making the information requests, and what personal information they sought; coupled with how the Yukon Party unilaterally changed legislation and what reasoning was given for doing so.