Access By Design - Ontario Privacy Commissioner Speaks Out

Michael Hardner · November 2, 2010

A transparent and open government is vital for a free and democratic society. The essential purpose of access
to information legislation is to support the democratic process by ensuring that citizens have the information

required to hold their governments accountable – which is not possible if government activities and documents

are hidden from public view. When government proactively provides routine access to government-held

information, it creates a “culture of accountability.”

It all sounds good but what will come of it ?

Searching for Dr. Cavoukian, I find that the first thing I find was buried in this article about hospital lobbying:

As part of the legislation - which passed first reading on Wednesday - the hospitals will fall under Ontario's freedom of information act, providing greater transparency overall.
"It will provide access to hospitals' general records, including records relating to operational and financial functions," said Ontario's information and privacy commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, in a news release.

The web is the printing press of the 21st century, and just as Luther's pamphlets caused an upheaval in the church, the web will someday change the face of how we interact with our governmental institutions. Let's watch for more from Dr. Cavoukian in the future, as she appears to get it.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Michael Hardner