The Access to Information Act was adopted in 1983. Under the Act, all Canadian citizens and permanent residents have a right to be given access to any record under the control of a government institution. This right of access, now enshrined for twenty-five years, has become a fundamental pillar in ensuring the accountability of Canada’s federal government and its institutions.

Since the enactment of the Act, the environment in which it operates has changed dramatically. The revolution in information and communication technology has transformed our capacity to create, store, and share information. Many citizens-supported by these rapid advances in information technology-expect greater involvement and transparency in public policy and decision-making processes. Moreover, political pressure for stronger security measures has arguably made governments more likely to withhold rather than release potentially sensitive information.

The purpose of June 10, 2008, Public Policy Forum Workshop: Modernizing the Access to Information Regime, is to engage leading access to information thinkers and decision-makers in a well-informed, forward-looking discussion about new ideas and possible options for modernizing the federal access to information regime.

In order to inform the discussion, three papers have been prepared and are accessible on the Public Policy Forum at the following link: http://www.ppforum.ca/en/events/details.asp?id=259&theme=&year=

1. The Access to Information Act 25 years later: Towards a new generation of access rights in Canada by Murray Rankin Q.C., June 10, 2008;
2. Summary of Administrative Reform Recommendations in the Access to Information Review Task Force by Laurence Kearly, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada, May 2008;
3. A thematic comparison of access legislation across Canadian and international jurisdictions by Randall Hofley and Craig Collins-Williams, Stikeman Elliott, LLP, May 2008 (To come).