Industry recommendations on impact of the Federal Accountability Act on FOI

Mr Chair, allow me first to thank you for this opportunity to address the Committee. The Canadian Newspaper Association shares the interest of Committee members in increasing transparency and accountability in government.

With me is David Gollob, CNA’s Vice President of Public Affairs. David is the CNA’s representative in Ottawa, and like me, has been following your deliberations closely.

The Bill before you is vast, and time is short. I will limit my comments to those aspects that have an impact on the public’s right to know.

The CNA is a trade association – the voice of Canada’s daily newspapers on matters affecting the industry. For close to a decade we have been lobbying for changes to the Access to Information Act so that it can do what it was meant to do – give the public a window on decisions of government.