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investigations
Oops – CBSA has effectively lost 12,000 open access requests
The Canada flag on the Peace Tower is lit up by morning light on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. A new poll suggests only one third of Canadians support the city of Mississauga, Ont., proposing to ask the Federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem, O Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
report on business
Documents reveal Ottawa’s efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code of conduct
An expert in Canadian competition says Loblaw’s move to reduce discounts on its last-day sale items is highly unlikely to be evidence of collusion in the grocery industry. The Loblaws flagship location on Carlton Street in Toronto on Thursday May 2, 2013.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
investigations
Secret Canada wins prestigious FOI award
The Canada flag on the Peace Tower is lit up by morning light on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. A new poll suggests only one third of Canadians support the city of Mississauga, Ont., proposing to ask the Federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem, O Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
rob magazine
Esri plans to navigate the housing crisis with a game-changing acquisition
A condominium building stands in front of townhomes near Humber Bay Shores in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Toronto, Wednesday July 25, 2018. (Mark Blinch/Globe and Mail)
politics
Access to information system needs to be fixed, Poilievre says
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference with Indigenous leaders in Vancouver on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. He proposes a plan for First Nations to collect 50 per cent of the federal taxes paid by industrial activities on their land, with industry getting a tax credit in exchange. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
canada
Secret Canada: An ‘ill-founded setback’ for freedom of information at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to release its ruling today on a bid by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to keep his marching orders to cabinet ministers confidential. The Supreme Court of Canada is seen, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
investigations
Four charts that break down the latest federal access to information statistics
The Canada flag on the Peace Tower is lit up by morning light on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. A new poll suggests only one third of Canadians support the city of Mississauga, Ont., proposing to ask the Federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem, O Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
obituary
Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson prided herself on being above the political fray
June 26, 2012: Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson pose for photograph at her office in Ottawa. DAVE CHAN for The Globe and Mail
canada
Waits before child-protection case hearings nearly doubled over past five years in Quebec, data show
Quebec's police watchdog is investigating after a member of a provincial police tactical team shot a man suspected of making threats toward Premier François Legault and Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Legault gestures as he speaks to the media on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Francis Vachon
investigations
Noteworthy November appeals decisions show two takes on the public-interest override
The Canada flag on the Peace Tower is lit up by morning light on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. A new poll suggests only one third of Canadians support the city of Mississauga, Ont., proposing to ask the Federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem, O Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
secret canada
Researcher fights Quebec coroner to see forensics collection shown in museums
Jamie Jelinski, an art historian and tattoo researcher, looks through a large stack of redacted documents including documents that show the skull of 1922 murder victim Raoul Delorme, in Montreal on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Jelinski has been engaged in a lengthy struggle for access to information, facing denials from Quebec officials regarding photographs and documents of a forensics collection of human remains publicly exhibited as recently as four years ago. Evan Buhler/The Globe and Mail
opinion
Secret Canada: Don’t hide our history behind restrictive freedom of information laws
The Editorial Board
secret canada
Canada’s broken information laws keep history in the dark
Podcast
Podcast logo for The Decibel, the daily show from The Globe and Mail.
energy and resources
Alberta Energy Regulator mulls reducing liability of old wells before cleanup certified
Alberta's Energy Regulator is considering giving oil and gas companies an advance break on the environmental liabilities of old well sites before the cleanup is certified complete. A decommissioned pumpjack is shown at a well head on an oil and gas installation near Cremona, Alta., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
secret canada
Ottawa has declined to overhaul its access to information system, for the second time
President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
opinion
Secret Canada: How Alberta is turning freedom of information into a Why Do You Need To Know Act
The Editorial Board
opinion
The Access to Information Act needs urgent repair. Will Pierre Poilievre be the politician to fix it?
Dean Beeby
canada
Nova Scotia to review freedom of information legislation after years of criticism
<div>The Nova Scotia government is offering a $150,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the disappearance Zachery Lefave, who was reported missing on Jan. 1, 2021. Nova Scotia Justice Minister Brad Johns is shown at the provincial legislature in Halifax on March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette</div>
opinion
Canada’s access-to-information law has entered a painful midlife crisis
Caroline Maynard
opinion
The internet has recreated the real world’s inequality online. Access to information is the solution
Andrew Heslop
canada
Alberta rejects requests for data on freedom of information system a second time
investigations
How to use FOI to research a private company's ownership structure
The Canada flag on the Peace Tower is lit up by morning light on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. A new poll suggests only one third of Canadians support the city of Mississauga, Ont., proposing to ask the Federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem, O Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Contract talks held up RCMP team’s response to mass stabbing in Saskatchewan, e-mails show
A police roadblock is set up at the James Smith Cree Nation, Sask., on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Nine First Nations police service say Ottawa's "deliberate and wilful underfunding" of policing in their communities amounts to discrimination. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
opinion
Internal CRTC files show poor probe of Rogers outage – it deserves its own scrutiny
Matt Malone
morning update newsletter
Morning Update: Ottawa rejected independent study of access to information system in favour of internal review, documents reveal
Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
secret canada
Ottawa rejected independent study of access to information system in favour of internal review, documents reveal
Storm clouds pass by the Peace tower and Parliament hill Tuesday August 18, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
politics
Politics Briefing: Rodriguez calls on Meta to reverse decision to block news, give Canadians access to information
Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez takes part in a funding announcement at Canadian North in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. The announcement was related to supply chains and improving cargo capacity. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Lack of local media, Meta’s news block impact Northwest Territories residents’ access to information
This August 13, 2023 image provided by Sylvia Webster shows smoke rising from wildfires near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Thousands ordered to flee wildfires advancing on one of the largest cities in Canada's far north crammed into a local airport on August 17, 2023, to board emergency evacuation flights, as convoys snaked south to safety on the only open highway. The order late on August 16, 2023, to evacuate Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories marked the latest chapter of a terrible summer for wildfires in Canada, with tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes and vast swathes of land scorched. (Photo by Sylvia WEBSTER / UGC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT « AFP PHOTO / Sylvia WEBSTER" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [ NO ARCHIVE ] (Photo by SYLVIA WEBSTER/UGC/AFP via Getty Images)
world
Hackers may have access to information on millions of British voters, election commission says
A pedestrian with a UK themed umbrella walks across Westminster Bridge, across the River Thames, with the Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben in the back ground, in central London, on July 31, 2023 on a gloomy and rainy summer day. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
investigations
Three rare examples where FOI appeals commissions handed out consequences
Michael Harvey in the Quidi Vidi area of St. John's, Nfld.
canada
Federal employees question how disastrous Regina rebrand was approved
Karlene Gibson, left, holds a sign during a rally at City Hall in Regina on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Experience Regina, the city's tourism agency, was launched in March with it posting phrases on social media that seemed to make light of the Saskatchewan capital’s name rhyming with female anatomy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell
politics
Federal outsourcing takes place without IT expertise, memo reveals
People make their way toward the West Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. The House of Commons resumes today following a two-week recess. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
How to appeal an FOI decision in Canada
Video5:33
investigations
The ‘Blonde Dragon’ transit driver and other stories uncovered through FOI
Streetcars lined up at a Toronto Transit Commissions yard in January, 2023.
canada
How to navigate Canada's FOI systems
Video8:12
investigations
Kathleen Wynne: Some secrecy must remain for government to function
Kathleen Wynne was premiere of Ontario for five years from 2013 to 2018.