Carney promises access to information review, sparks skepticism amidst broken promises

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, speaking in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., acknowledged that his commitment to reviewing Ottawa's troubled access to information system was not included in the party platform, stating, "Yes, it's not in the platform – it’s in my head."

"I think looking at access to information is quite important. The speed with which the information is provided, the redactions – I’m happy to commit to having a review of that, because I do find that, at least as an outsider until now, and as a consumer of it, that I can’t always follow the process," Carney stated, acknowledging the system's opacity.

"An objective review of that would serve Canadians well, regardless of the result of the election," he added, framing the issue as one of fundamental public interest.


Carney's pledge comes amidst mounting criticism of Canada's access to information regime, highlighted by The Globe and Mail's "Secret Canada" investigation.

The investigation revealed systemic failures, including routine violations of statutory time limits, overuse of redactions, and fabricated claims of non-existent records. These issues persist despite court precedents and the efforts of government-appointed watchdogs.

The statistics paint a stark picture: a 2023 audit found that federal, provincial, and territorial ministries completed only half of their requests within the mandated 30-day timeframe.

Federal institutions alone violated their legislated timelines roughly 30 per cent of the time in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

The situation prompted Canada's information commissioners to issue joint resolutions, echoing a similar call from 2019, urging governments to modernize access laws.

However, Carney's proposed review faces skepticism, given the government's track record.

A 2023 House of Commons committee report, containing 38 recommendations, was met with inaction, with the government opting for "operational and administrative challenges" rather than substantive reform.

Similarly, Justin Trudeau's 2015 campaign promises of sweeping changes, including bringing ministers' offices under access law and implementing "open by default," remain unfulfilled.

Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, dismissed Carney's promise as "weak and too little, too late," urging the winning party to undertake a "meaningful review" that addresses secrecy loopholes and strengthens enforcement.

Democracy Watch also criticized all major parties for neglecting substantial democratic reform pledges in their platforms.

Carney also addressed concerns about government ethics, stating, "I think that I would distinguish between the rules and the conduct.

If there are specific proposals, obviously we would look at them, but what’s important is bringing that spirit of the highest integrity – I think my track record is consistent with that."