Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Information rights undermined in B.C.: report

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Sep, 2020 08:31 PM
  • Information rights undermined in B.C.: report

A report says the British Columbia government is routinely undermining its own citizens' rights by delaying requests for information.

Information and privacy commissioner Michael McEvoy says the government often extends the timelines for its response to access to information requests without legal authority.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act sets 30 days for the government to respond to information requests, which can be extended another 30 days but extensions past that need approval from the commissioner.

McEvoy says in a statement that his office reviewed 4,000 cases where the government "essentially took it upon itself to extend the time for response without the legal right to do so."

The commissioner says that represents a "blight" on B.C.'s access system and damages the integrity of the access to information law.

The report examined government's timeliness on access requests from April 2017 to March 2020, and found improvement in response times since September 2017.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health
A total of $3.75 million will be spent in the 2020-21 school year to promote mental wellness and provide additional support for students, families and educators, Darcy told a news conference Wednesday.

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?
Poll finds President Donald Trump could win big on US election night - Bloomberg urges people to vote by mail early to defeat Trump. A former Mission elementary school principal caught by the Creep Catchers in 2016 defends himself by saying he was writing a book on them. India's GDP takes the worst hit in 24 years due to COVID-19.

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record
The campaign for the Sept. 14 election, now in its third week, has featured the usual assortment of promises and rhetoric, but it has become clear the Tories want to focus voters' attention on Higgs' response to the viral scourge.

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3
Eight people made the final ballot this week, meeting a Tuesday deadline to submit the final entrance fees and 150 additional signatures from party members.

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF
The WWF study used data representing thousands of wildlife populations from more than 800 species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles.

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight
"Canada is doing the right things and the United States is wrong," Trudeau said of the decision.

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight

PrevNext