{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252{\fonttbl{\f0\fbidis\froman\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fbidis\fswiss\fcharset0 Calibri;}{\f2\fbidis\fswiss\fcharset0 Calibri;}}{\stylesheet{\fs22\f1\sqformat\spriority1 Normal}{\s1\li100\f1\fs22\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 Body Text}{\s2\li100\outlinelevel0\f2\fs22\b1\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 Heading 1}{\s3\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 List Paragraph}{\s4\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 Table Paragraph}}{\info{\author Laferriere, Anik}{\creatim\yr2021\mo8\dy11\hr14\min38\sec21}{\revtim\yr2022\mo5\dy5\hr16\min8\sec13}}{\*\userprops {\propname Creator}\proptype30{\staticval Microsoft\'AE Word for Microsoft 365}}\jexpand\dntblnsbdb\viewkind1\noxlattoyen\nospaceforul\useltbaln\paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1340\margr1340\margt1400\margb280\noindnmbrts\sectd\sbknone\pard\plain\s2\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb39\f2\fs22\b1\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Submission\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 received\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 by\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 email\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 on\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 April\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 1,\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 2021\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri7265\sl403\slmult1\sb181\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ATIA Review Submission\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Howard Anglin\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl-266\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 April\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 1,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 2021\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb8\f1\fs29\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb1\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Dear Sir\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 or\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Madam,\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri291\sl259\slmult1\sb182\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Thank you for the opportunity to submit comment on the ATIA legislative framework. Below, I address\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 one of the three questions on which you asked for input, but I would like to begin by making a general\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 observation. No doubt the overwhelming majority of submissions will urge you to increase access to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information, making it cheaper for requestors, expanding the scope of material covered, and speeding\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 up\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 response\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 times. I\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 hope\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 that my response\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 will provide\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 some\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 balance.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri496\qj\sl259\slmult1\sb159\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 At the heart of the theory of accountability in a Westminster democracy is that the people have the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information they need to decide whether to re-elect members or, as the saying goes, to \'93throw the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 bums out.\'94 Also of fundamental importance is the convention of individual and collective ministerial\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 accountability,\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 which\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 allows members\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 hold\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 account\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 for its\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 actions.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri142\sl259\slmult1\sb159\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 In the first case, the information voters need to cast a ballot is largely unconnected with the internal\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 operation of politics. On these questions, the ATIA is mostly irrelevant. When it comes to the questions\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of whether Canadians believe the country is safer, freer, more prosperous, more cohesive, or more\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 moral, the voters themselves possess the most important data: their experience of life and work in their\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 communities,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 supplemented\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 by\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 relatively\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 broad\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 statistical\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 records\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 like crime\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 rates,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 average incomes,\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri255\sl259\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 employment rates, and tax rates allow them to measure the performance of a government. They don\'92t\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 need to peer over the shoulder of mid-level public servants to read their emails or peruse ministerial\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 briefing notes to measure whether their lives, their community, and their country are better or worse\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 off.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri180\sl259\slmult1\sb158\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 It follows from this that public access to the large bulk of government\'92s internal communications\'97\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 emails, direct messages, meeting notes\'97is rarely relevant and certainly not necessary to our\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 democracy. Preserving, collecting, analysing, and redacting these communications comes at significant\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and growing cost, which significantly outweighs the probative benefits. The advent of electronic\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 communication has moved many conversations that would otherwise have happened in person, online.\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The ease of communication, and especially remote and simultaneous communication (one can email or\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 message six different people in six minutes while participating in an in-person meeting) means these\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 informal exchanges, which would in previous decades have been phone calls or hallway conversations,\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 have multiplied to produce troves of inconsequential, transitory records that in the past would have\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 been undocumented and unavailable under an ATIA. The country is no better governed in 2021\'97and\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Canadians are certainly no better off relative to peer countries\'97than in 1991 or 1951. If voters and the\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 media then did not need tape recordings of every personal bureaucratic or ministerial conversation to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 hold the government to account, then they don\'92t need the equivalent records today, simply because\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 they are available. I would, therefore, strongly encourage all electronic communications within the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 public\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 service and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 between\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 public\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 service and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 political\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 staff\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 be\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 exempted\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 from\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ATIA,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 as\par\sect\sectd\sbkpage\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri648\sl259\slmult1\sb39\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 political office communications already are, unless they are the final and official record of a formal\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 decision\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 (which\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 they\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 never should\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 be).\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri291\sl259\slmult1\sb160\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 In the second case, of ministerial responsibility, Parliament has all the powers it needs to access\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information and evaluate the performance of ministers. The ATIA is superfluous to those powers. If\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 members do not choose to exercise their institutional prerogatives in holding the government to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 account\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 in\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 House\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 or its\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 committees,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 then that\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 is\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 a\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 matter for\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 voters\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 at the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 next\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 general\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 election.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri171\sl259\slmult1\sb159\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 What we need is not more indiscriminate access to information, but access to the right information.\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 General statistical information of the kind that Statistics Canada produces is sufficient transparency for\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 good government. Any improvements to transparency should be focussed on the quality and timeliness\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of this general statistical information. Contracts, costing, and the sort of documentation required for a\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 proper accounting of government\'92s work should also be available to internal and external departmental\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 auditors\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and, in appropriately redacted\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 form,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 general public.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri212\qj\sl259\slmult1\sb159\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 We don\'92t need more access to information as a general principle; we need less and better public access\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to information, at lower cost to taxpayers, and with less harassment and real-time supervision of public\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 servants\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 trying\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 develop\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 implement\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 good\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 policy\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 by\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 media.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb10\f1\fs27\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri149\sl259\slmult1\f2\fs22\b1\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 What are your thoughts on what aspects of the legislative framework should be addressed in order to\f2\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ensure it continues to respond to the ways Canadians and the government do business and manage\f2\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 in\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 digital age?\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri144\sl259\slmult1\sb160\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 As described above, the most important information for democratic accountability is timely, general\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 statistical information about economic conditions, wages, employment, and public order. The rest is\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 experienced by Canadians in their day-to-day lives. Public accounts are already available through the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 budget process and regular reporting by government and external sources. The retention of relevant\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information for purposes of internal and external audits of government, and for release when necessary\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 or\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 appropriate is\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 also\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 an important function, but\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 not\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 strictly related\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ATIA.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri128\sl259\slmult1\sb161\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The ATIA should be amended to exclude electronic communications and routine memoranda. These are\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 transitory records, which shouldn\'92t need to be kept or disclosed. As I wrote once before, media curiosity\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 about government doesn\'92t make the transient important. Prurience does not create relevance. This\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 amendment would save time and money and allow public servants and political staff to communicate\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 more freely\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 candidly,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 which\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 would\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 improve\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 administration.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri357\sl259\slmult1\sb158\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 In his 1999 article, \'93The Rise of Court Government in Canada,\'94 Donald Savoie documents the effect of\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 transparency\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 on\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the functioning\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of government. He\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 quotes\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Giles\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Gherson,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 \'93a leading\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 media figure in\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri185\sl259\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Ottawa and a former policy advisor in the federal Department of Human Resources\'94 as saying that "[t]o\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 address the access to information issue ... I saw it myself that officials are extremely leery\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of putting\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 things on paper that they wouldn't like to see made public or\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 find its way to the media, several months\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 later, that could be embarrassing to the minister.\'94 Donald Savoie was writing in 1999, when electronic\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 communication\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 was\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 still in\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 its infancy.\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 volume\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 today\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 would\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 be\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 many times\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 case\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 22\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 years\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ago.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri138\sl259\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The ATIA is supposed to improve government; if it is inhibiting good advice and limiting internal\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 communications in a way that is making government worse, then to that extent it needs to be corrected\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 or curtailed.\par\sect\sectd\sbkpage\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri188\sl259\slmult1\sb39\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Professor Savoie also cites the pollster Conrad Winn, who says that \'93access to information has seriously\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 inhibited the ability of government departments to ask the right question when commissioning a\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 survey.\'94 The reason is that, \'93[t]he bottom line for the average public servant is don't embarrass the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 minister, that is the surest way to have your career stopped or slowed down. If you have polls that ask\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 all kinds of questions that would reveal the truthful complexity of what people think... then [the polls]\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 will\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 inevitably show\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 public\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 doesn't like\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 something\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the government\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 does.\'94\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri99\sl259\slmult1\sb159\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 In the Soviet Union, one of the problems the government faced was not knowing what the people really\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 thought, which\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 limited the\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government\'92s\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ability\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 devise\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 good policy. In\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 that\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 case,\f1\expnd0\expndtw2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 it\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 was\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 people\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 who (with good reason) were afraid to answer government polls honestly for fear of government\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 reprisal; now, in Canada, it seems we have the opposite problem\'97 government officials are afraid to ask\f1\expnd-9\expndtw-47\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 relevant and probing questions, for fear of public reprisal. For this reason, government public opinion\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 research\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 should\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 not be\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 subject\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs22\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the ATIA.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb11\f1\fs27\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\f2\fs22\b1\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 What\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 are\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 your\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 thoughts\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 on\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 how\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 proactive\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 publication\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 is\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 working\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 so\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 far?\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb181\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 [Blank]\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs22\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb8\f1\fs29\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb1\f2\fs22\b1\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Tell\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 us\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 your\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 thoughts\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 on\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 process\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 submitting\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 an\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 access\f2\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 request\f2\expnd1\expndtw5\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 \'96\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 what\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 works\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb21\f2\fs22\b1\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 what\f2\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f2\fs22\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 doesn\'92t?\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb181\f1\fs22\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 [Blank]\par}