ACCESS TO INFORMATION REVIEW REPORT RELEASED

OTTAWA, June 12, 2002 – Today, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Member of Parliament for Outremont, and the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada and Member of Parliament for Westmount - Ville-Marie, announced the release of the Access to Information Review Task Force report which was presented to the Deputy Minister, Department of Justice Canada and the Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada.

"The Government of Canada is committed to the right of citizens to have access to information," said Minister Cauchon. "This report is part of the Government of Canada's efforts to fulfil this commitment and it has provided us with a number of options to consider."

"We are very grateful for the extensive work of the Task Force and all those who contributed to this review. This is a major report and we intend to study it and its recommendations carefully," said Minister Robillard.

The report, Access to Information: Making it Work for Canadians, contains 139 recommendations that take a uniquely integrated approach to ATI reform by addressing legislative, administrative and cultural issues. The recommendations are based on comprehensive research and analysis, including consultation with stakeholder groups, the public service, other jurisdictions in Canada and abroad as well as the Canadian public.

The Task Force received advice on access issues from an External Advisory Committee made up of individuals outside the government, including academics, journalists, historians and other users of the Act, as well as from a committee of Assistant Deputy Ministers.

The Government intends to respond to the Task Force's report in the Fall 2002.

The Task Force was established on August 21, 2000, to review all aspects of the federal access to information regime, including the Act, Regulations, and policies and procedures. It was chaired by Madame Andrée Delagrave.

The report, along with summaries of consultations and research, submissions and other reports can be found on the Task Force Web site at www.atirtf-geai.gc.ca.

The Task Force will be available for comment until June 28, 2002.

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For more information, contact:

Mary Anne Stevens
Director
Access to Information Review Task Force
(613) 957-2485

Media Relations Office
Department of Justice
(613) 957-4207

Dan Kingsbury
TBS Spokesperson, Media Relations
(613) 957-2391

TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - (613) 957-9090