Canada: A coalition of 22 NGOs says it has received promises from the NDP and Liberal parties to substantively improve the access to information system if elected, a pledge with weight following the Liberal victory in the elections. Newspapers Canada recently released its ninth annual National Freedom of Information Audit report, saying the law is “effectively crippled.”
Public-Private Partnerships: The minutes of a G-20 on “quality investment infrastructure” summarize the comments of a discussion among government representatives. In August the World Bank and others issued a Framework for Disclosure for PPP Projects. A related report discusses PPP contractual provisions.
India: The Indian Express interviews Chief Information Commissioner Vijai Sharma, who addresses misuse of the RTI Act among many other topics.
South Africa: “Are South Africa’s Municipalities Compliant with Access to information Law?” Shaun Russell addresses this question in an article posted by Ndifuna Ukwazi, a group of activists and lawyers providing strategic legal services, research capacity and training opportunities to social movements and community based organisations in joint campaigns.
Scotland: Scottish Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew publishes her annual report for 2014/15.
Australia: “The responses by Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd to questions in Senate Estimates on Monday suggest Mr Lloyd doesn’t know what he is talking about when it comes to information access in the cause of transparency and accountability,” writes Peter Timmins in his Open and Shut blog.
United Kingdom: Gavin Freeguard of the Institute for Government writes, “If the Government does want to strengthen its protection of ‘safe space’, it will need to present convincing evidence that preserving the status quo is damaging.” Also see editorial in The Pulse.
United Kingdom: Petition started to protest proposed changes in FOI law.
The Czech Republic: The lower house of parliament approves a Bill on the Repository of Contracts to require publishing full texts of all contracts signed by the public sector, reports Kamil Gregor on the Sunlight Foundation blog.
United States: “Why FOIA’s speed clause is broken,” an article by Erin Carroll in the Columbia Journalism Review.
Nigeria: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, laments that Nigerians have not been able to utilize the FOI act.
Cyprus: Despite bad reviews of draft legislation, Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou says Cyprus aspires to have among the best possible FOI legislation in the EU, reports The Mail. Access Info Europe welcomes his pledge.
Ghana: The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has called for a speedy passage of the RTI bill and the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill.
Ireland: The Cabinet has agreed to release state papers after 20 rather than 30 years to “ensure our shared history with the UK is presented in a balanced fashion,” The Irish Times says.
FOI Humor: Fighting parking fine using FOI in the United Kingdo, a video with Joe Lycett.
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