Canadian Access to Information Act
The Canadian Access to Information Act is a federal statute that was enacted in the 1980s under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. This legislation established a framework for the public to request access to government-held documents, addressing the lack of standardized procedures that existed prior to its introduction. It mandates that individuals or organizations submit formal applications and pay a small fee to obtain federal government materials, although it does not cap potential additional costs associated with fulfilling these requests. The Act defines specific categories of information that may be exempt from disclosure, including personal data of living individuals, information related to deceased persons within the last twenty years, and data received from foreign agencies. A significant exemption also encompasses information that could compromise national security. The implementation of these provisions has sparked ongoing debate and criticism regarding transparency and the balance between public access and government confidentiality. Overall, the Act represents a fundamental effort to promote accountability in the Canadian federal government while navigating the complexities of privacy and security concerns.
Canadian Access to Information Act
Enacted: 1983
Place: Canada (national)
Significance: This federal law governs the release of all documents and material held by government departments and agencies; individual provinces have similar laws
The Access to Information Act was introduced and passed by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Prior to its passage Canada’s federal government had no concrete rules governing release of documents and other materials; each department and agency had its own idiosyncracies. The new act provided systematic rules for the release of all federal government-controlled information, regardless of its age. It required individuals or agencies wishing access to federal government materials to complete application forms and pay nominal fees. However, it placed no limit on the additional costs that could be incurred by persons making such requests.
The law defined three categories of information that could be exempted or censored. These included details of a personal nature relating to living persons and those who have been dead less than twenty years, and information received from external agencies, such as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The broadest exemption covered information that might threaten national security. All these restrictions have generated considerable criticism and controversy since the law was enacted.