MEDIA ADVISORY

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ENHANCED ACCESS TO RECORDS
AND IMPROVED PRIVACY PROTECTION

VICTORIA – An all-party Special Committee has completed its review of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Province’s public sector access and privacy law. Its recommendations are based on the views of 79 organizations and individuals who took part in the consultation process during the fall and winter.

The committee made 26 recommendations to improve each of the 6 parts of the act. Its proposals for legislative change include: promoting a culture of openness to enhance the accountability of public bodies; encouraging the 2,200 public bodies covered by the act to use privacy-enhancing technologies to protect personal information; strengthening the powers of the independent Information and Privacy Commissioner; and requiring that more government records are made available on a routine basis.

“The committee’s recommendations will enhance the working of the act for all British Columbians,” said committee chair Blair Lekstrom, MLA. “The report also clearly confirms that the public has the right to expect that their FOI requests will be treated equally, impartially and in a timely manner by public bodies. ”

“We believe that openness is the proper way for government to conduct the public’s business,” added deputy chair Mike Hunter, MLA. “Therefore, our report recommends that more government information be routinely disclosed so that the records of public bodies are open to public scrutiny, subject only to necessary exceptions.”

The Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act was appointed on May 29, 2003 in accordance with section 80 of the act, which currently requires that the act be reviewed at least once every six years. A previous review of the act began in 1997 and was completed in 1999. The committee was mandated to submit a report to the Legislative Assembly with any recommendations regarding the act that result from its review b y May 29, 2004 .

The members of the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act are:

The report, as well as the minutes and transcripts of committee meetings can be found on its website at http://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt, by contacting any committee member, or by contacting:

Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk Assistant and Committee Clerk
Room 224, Parliament Buildings , Victoria , B.C., V8V 1X4
Phone: 250-356-2933 (24 hours)
Toll-free: 1-877-428-8337
Fax: 250-356-8172
E-mail: FOICommittee@leg.bc.ca

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