Letter to the Privacy Commissioner – Invitation to provide input into the access to information review (July 7, 2020)

Mr. Daniel Therrien
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria St
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1H3
daniel.therrien@priv.gc.ca

Dear Mr. Therrien,

I write to you today to announce the official launch of the Government of Canada’s review of access to information. I would like to formally invite you to offer your perspectives and recommendations to improve access to information in Canada.

The review will focus on three main areas: the legislative framework, proactive publication, and the processes and systems that support the access to information regime across the federal government. It will invite Canadians to share their ideas on access to information through a variety of engagement activities. The review will also seek the views of Indigenous Peoples on aspects of access to information that are important to them. The success of our review hinges, above all, on a meaningful exchange of views: we are committed to using digital platforms in an accessible, open and inclusive manner to encourage Canadians to participate, even within the current context of a global pandemic.

In light of your role, experience and expertise, your perspective will be an important contribution to the review, particularly regarding the parallels and overlaps between the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. I would be grateful for your recommendations to improve Canada’s access to information regime by mid-October 2020.

I would like to thank you in advance for your contributions and input in service of this important project.

Yours sincerely,

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