Member’s Statement: Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Mr. Speaker, it has been four years since the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act came into effect, and 37 years since Richard Hatfield introduced our original right to information legislation. Decades ago we had a reputation for open government. Sadly, the curtain has fallen on open government. Most citizens discover we now have what amounts to – a Right to Little Information Act, as the current legislation permits considerable secrecy.
I expect most New Brunswickers are unaware that the Minister of Government Services is heading up a review of the Right to Information legislation and that he has even released a discussion paper on the issue. Mr. Speaker, I encourage New Brunswickers to share their stories about their difficulty in obtaining information about the business of government with the Minister of Government Services by e-mailing info.priv@gnb.ca, calling 444-4180, or writing the Department of Government Services at P.O. Box 1998 in Fredericton. Truly the business of government is the business of the people, and it is time that we embrace that understanding once again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.