Black Out Speak Out June 4

Black Out Speak Out – for nature and democracy in Canada – June 4th. Coordinated by a number of environmental groups. Spread the word! http://www.blackoutspeakout.ca/

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – latest secret copyright agreement

Public Knowledge has a great post on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – the latest trade agreement currently being negotiated in secret by governments and corporations – basically the same group who brought us SOPA and ACTA.

 

 

The cost of cuts to Access to Information

Kady O’Malley on the impact of the $500,000 cuts to the Infomation Commissioner’s Office: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2012/04/access-to-info-watch-information-commissioner-facing-500-k-in-not-so-voluntary-budget-cuts.html

Excerpts:

Responding via email to a query on what the cuts will mean for her office, Legault told cbc.ca that the office will “need to reassess its operations once more, and noted that it may also heighten the risk of judicial review applications based on too-long investigations, which could ultimately result in higher cost to the taxpayer.

She also worries that “system-wide budget cuts” could have a “significant impact on Access to Information” throughout government, citing comments from her predecessor, John Grace, who observed that “as the public service experiences more and deeper budget cuts, the danger is that officials, already cool to the access law, can cloak themselves in self-righteousness.”

One final note: The commissioner is currently in the midst of a comprehensive review of alleged interference with access to information requests by political staffers…

Grace-Pépin Access to Information Award

The Information Commissioner of Canada has just announced the creation of the new Grace-Pépin Access to Information Award, Recognizing those who contribute to the promotion of access to information principles.

Is it just me or does this sound like what we librarians do? The deadline is May 1st.

In future years, announcement of the winner of the award will take place during National Right to Know Week.