{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252{\fonttbl{\f0\fbidis\froman\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fbidis\fswiss\fcharset0 Verdana;}{\f2\fbidis\fswiss\fcharset0 Verdana;}}{\colortbl ;\red0 \green0 \blue0;\red24 \green24 \blue24;}{\stylesheet{\fs22\f1\sqformat\spriority1 Normal}{\s1\li100\f1\fs24\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 Body Text}{\s2\li100\ri242\f1\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 List Paragraph}{\s3\sbasedon0\sqformat\spriority1 Table Paragraph}}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid2181{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li100\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fs24\b1\charscalex100}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li972\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li1844\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li2716\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li3588\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li4460\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li5332\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li6204\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\li7076\fi-255{\leveltext\'01\'95;}{\levelnumbers;}}\listid1026}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listoverridecount0\listid1026\ls1}}{\info{\author Phil Koning}{\creatim\yr2022\mo5\dy5\hr11\min51\sec13}{\revtim\yr2022\mo5\dy5\hr15\min51\sec21}{\title \'95 Cabinet records less than 20 years old aren\'92t even covered by the act}}{\*\userprops {\propname Creator}\proptype30{\staticval Foxit Software Inc.}}\jexpand\dntblnsbdb\viewkind1\noxlattoyen\nospaceforul\useltbaln\paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1700\margr1720\margt1360\margb280\noindnmbrts\sectd\sbknone\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri490\sl240\slmult1\sb81\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Cabinet records less than 20 years old aren\'92t even covered by the\f1\expnd-17\expndtw-83\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 act. The government also has unfettered authority to declare a\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 document a cabinet confidence, without being subject to a second\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 opinion by the information commissioner. \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 : a narrower\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 definition, a shorter period of protection, at most five years, and\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 independent review.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb11\f1\fs22\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri261\qj\sl240\slmult1\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Routine\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 delays\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 in\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 releasing\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 information\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 are\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 absurd,\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 often\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 months\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 or\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-82\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 years, impoverishing public discourse. The act imposes no penalty for\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-82\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 failing to\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 meet\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 30-day\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 deadline\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 set out\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 in the\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 law.\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The\f2\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 :\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\sl240\slmult1\sb1\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 legislated\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 sanctions,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 such\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 as\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 removing\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 a\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 department\'92s\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ability\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 to\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 invoke\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-81\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 exemptions if it disregards deadlines. Or make the pay of deputy\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 ministers\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 others\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 contingent\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 on upholding\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 law.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs23\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri242\sl240\slmult1\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Excessive use of exemptions to withhold information, such as the\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 notorious Section 21 which protects \'93advice\'94 given to government\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 without\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 no\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 clear\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 definition\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 what\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 that\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 means.\f1\expnd1\expndtw5\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 :\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 put\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 an\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 expiry\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-81\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 date on exemptions, preventing their use on records older than, say,\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 three years. Add an injury test to every exemption, compelling\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government to prove significant harm should a document become\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 public.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb2\f1\fs23\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri406\sl240\slmult1\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The Act allows personal information about an individual to be\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 withheld for 20 years after death, long past any reasonable concern\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 about privacy. \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 : such information should be available\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 immediately\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 after\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 death,\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 such\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 as\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 in\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 the\f1\expnd1\expndtw3\charscalex100\cf2 {\field {\fldinst { HYPERLINK "https://www.foia.gov/" }}{\fldrslt \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100{\ul U.S.\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Freedom\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 of\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Information}} }\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 {\ul \f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 \f1\expnd-16\expndtw-81\charscalex100}\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-81\charscalex100 {\field {\fldinst { HYPERLINK "https://www.foia.gov/" }}{\fldrslt \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100{\ul Act}} }\f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 {\ul \expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\cf1}\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100\cf1 .\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\f1\fs23\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri556\sl240\slmult1\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Government records are only haphazardly archived, often many\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 decades\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 after\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 their\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 creation,\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-5\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 preventing\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Canadians\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 from\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 connecting\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-82\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 with their country\'92s past. \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 : regular and automatic archiving\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 after\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 20 years,\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 with\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 few\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 exceptions.\par\pard\plain\s1\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\sl240\slmult1\sb1\f1\fs23\b0\i0\par\pard\plain\s2\ls1\ilvl0\nooverflow\nocwrap\lnbrkrule\li100\ri579\sl240\slmult1\tx355\f1\fs24\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 Information about government activity has disappeared through\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 failure, sometimes deliberate, to create a record of day-to-day\f1\expnd0\expndtw1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 operations\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 and\f1\expnd0\expndtw-1\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 decisions.\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 The\f2\expnd-1\expndtw-4\charscalex100 \f2\fs24\b1\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 fix\f1\b0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 :\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 government\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 should\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 have\f1\expnd0\expndtw-2\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 a\f1\expnd-1\expndtw-3\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 legal\f1\expnd-16\expndtw-81\charscalex100 \f1\fs24\b0\i0\expnd0\expndtw0\charscalex100 duty to document.\par}