Open Data

Investigation finds Alberta government broke its own freedom of information rules | CBC News

Investigation finds Alberta government broke its own freedom of information rules | CBC News

Alberta’s government has been found non-compliant with its own freedom of information laws, as internal procedures systematically allow employees to wrongfully deny requests. The Information and Privacy Commissioner’s investigation revealed that the province utilized an internal manual to reject applications based on insufficient detail, a practice deemed invalid under provincial law. By requiring applicants to narrow the scope of their searches or risk immediate closure, the government shifted the burden of identification onto the public, effectively obstructing access rather than assisting it. This systemic failure undermines the democratic principle that transparency is foundational to individual rights. Citizens are not expected to know the internal structures or specific record-keeping methods of government bodies, yet the previous approach demanded a level of specificity that was practically unattainable for ordinary users. Consequently, the investigation concluded that all twenty-seven government departments reviewed were at fault, as they failed to uphold the legal duty to assist applicants in locating the requested information. This finding is highly relevant to open data and open governance advocates because it highlights how bureaucratic inertia and restrictive interpretations can stifle public accountability. The report serves as a critical warning that legal frameworks alone are insufficient without strict adherence to the spirit of transparency. It emphasizes that true open data initiatives require proactive assistance from institutions, ensuring that barriers to access are removed rather than manufactured, thereby empowering citizens to effectively exercise their democratic rights.

Source: cbc.ca
Published on 2025-05-11

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