Letter to the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations – Invitation to participate in the access to information review (November 10, 2020)

Mr. Perry Bellegarde
National Chief
Assembly of First Nations
46 Roundpoint
Akwesasne, Ontario
K6H 0G5
pbellegarde@afn.ca

Dear Mr. Bellegarde,

The Government recently launched a review of Canada’s Access to Information Act and its regime. The review will seek the input of Canadians on ways to strengthen access to information, building on improvements made in 2019. Input from Indigenous organizations will be key to the success of the review, so I am writing to invite the Assembly of First Nations to participate in the review.

More information on the review can be found at canada.ca/reviewing-ATI.

The targeted changes made to the Access to Information Act in 2019 represented the most significant amendments to the legislation since 1983. These changes included:

• eliminating the authority to charge fees apart from the $5 application fee;
• providing the Information Commissioner with the power to make binding orders to government institutions, including for the release of government records; and
• requiring publication online of a wide range of government information, providing Canadians with unprecedented insight into the government’s priorities, decision-making and operations, without the need for a request.

Recognizing that these amendments would not be the end of our efforts to renew access to information, the Government has now launched a full review of the Act, as an opportunity to address other outdated aspects of the Act. During the consideration of Bill C-58, Indigenous organizations provided us with important feedback about other issues that needed to be addressed. These included the scope and framing of provisions related to Indigenous governments, and the treatment of information obtained from Indigenous governments, or held by Indigenous institutions. The review is an opportunity to address these and other issues.

Your voice and perspectives are important, and we would appreciate your initial input on how and when your organization wishes to be engaged, particularly in a pandemic context, when health and safety is a priority.

If you are interested in participating in this process, I would encourage your organization to reach out to Ruth Naylor, Executive Director of the Information and Privacy Policy Division, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, at ruth.naylor@tbs-sct.gc.ca, to identify a contact person for your organization, and she will arrange a time for an initial discussion.

In the spirit of openness and transparency, we will be posting this letter on the review website in the near future.

The success of the review will depend on an open exchange of views and ideas. I welcome your participation.

Wela’lin. Qujannamiik. Niá:wen. Miigwetch. Marsee. Kinanâskomitin. Huy ch q’u. Merci. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
President of the Treasury Board

cc: Mr. William David, Director of Lands and Territories, wdavid@afn.ca