Transparency Talk

1
Transparency Talk
Meeting with Premier Selinger

• Presented by
• Canadian Association of Journalists
• Canadian Taxpayers Federation
• Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba)
• Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties
• Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba
• July 26, 2010

2
Introduction

• While in opposition, the NDP were very critical
  of the provinces FIPPA legislation
• "When you examine this legislation on the simple
  criteria of whether this legislation meets the
  test of power to the people for information or
  power being grabbed to the government to keep
  information secret, this bill fails, and that is
  why it has been described as the worst
  legislation in North America."
• - Gary Doer, Opposition Leader, Hansard June 27
  1997
• However, since 1999, the FIPPA was extended to
  many more public bodies and little progress has
  been made to open up government.
• A changing of the guard presents an opportunity
  for a new era of openness.

3
Recommendations from 2000

• Our organizations met with Minister McGifford in
  2000 and recommended the following changes
• Section 13 - Repetitive or abusive requests
  (repeal of entire section)
• Section 18 - Business interests of third parties
  (a general public interest override)
• Section 19 - Cabinet confidences (release with
  Cabinet consent or more that 10 years old)
• Section 22 - Local public body confidences
  (disclose in 10 years)
• Section 23 - Advice to a public body (limit scope
  of the exemption and disclose in 10 years)
• Section 34.1 - Public interest paramount
  (information must be disclosed if it is in the
  public interest)
• Sections 49.1 to 49.7 - Information and Privacy
  Commissioner Unfortunately, they have yet to be
  implemented.

4
1999 Election Promises

• In the 1999 election, the NDP committed to the
  following initiatives, but they have yet to be
  implemented
• Create an information commissioner with order
  power
• Reduce cabinet doc. secrecy period from 30 to 15
  years
• Disclose more details of government contracts
• Release information if it is in the public
  interest
• Relax advice to government clause

5
Two Thumbs Up

• Documents posted online
• Public accounts, budget information, reports,
  Orders in Council
• Cabinet Ministers travel expenses
• Weekly freedom of information requests
• Some board commission membership lists

6
Two Thumbs Down

• Compensation Disclosure Reports - Manitoba Hydro,
  MPI, Manitoba Lotteries and other bodies should
  place them online
• Harmful to a Third Party Clause - Government
  bodies using this too often
• Cabinet Doc Secrecy reduction to
• 20 years positive, but NDP promised
• 15 year wait which is still longer than
• Nova Scotia (10 years)
• Adjudicator vs. Commissioner
• Commissioner would have more power to
• liberate information

7
Moving Forward

• Support transparency around P3s, but government
  needs to lead by example (eg. MTS Centre
  contract, Hydro dam negotiation costs, WRHA
  purchasing partnership)
• Low Hanging Fruit Ideas
• Bring independent offices under FIPPA (eg.
  Elections Manitoba, Legislative Assembly, etc.)
• Post bid results for government contracts online
  like the City and Feds
• Scan and post MLA expenses online like Toronto
• Place question period video archive online like
  Steinbach
• Eliminate Aboriginal confidentiality clause
• Leadership on the publics right to know from top
  to bottom