Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Comité permanent de l'accès à l'information, de la protection des renseignements personnels et de l'éthique

For immediate release

Ottawa, January 27, 2011 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics is undertaking a study on open government. As noted by the Information Commissioner of Canada, “Open government is predicated on a system in which government records are available to citizens in open standard formats that permit unlimited use and re-use of the information. This facilitates public engagement and participation which, in turn, promotes greater transparency, accountability and trust in government.”

In December, the Committee heard from witnesses active in developing and promoting open government and open data, including Michael Mulley (web programmer and creator of http://openparliament.ca), Chris Moore (Chief Information Officer of the City of Edmonton), Michael Geist (Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa), Paul MacMillan (Partner and National Industry Leader at Deloitte), and Éric Sauvé (Vice-President of Newsgator Technologies).

On January 31st the Committee will hear testimony from public policy entrepreneur and open government activist David Eaves (http://eaves.ca). The study will continue with a witness roster of stakeholders from across Canada and abroad, including federal, provincial and municipal officials.

The Committee believes that it is important to hear from Canadians on this topic. Submissions and briefs on the subject of open government in Canada can be submitted to the Committee’s mailbox at ETHI@parl.gc.ca. A brief which is longer than 10 pages should be accompanied by a 1 page executive summary.

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) is composed of 11 parliamentarians representing four political parties. Additional information can be found at : www.parl.gc.ca/ethi-e.