If this example doesn't sum up government duplicity, I'm not sure what
does:
The federal government has refused to release to the public briefing books prepared for the minister tasked with making the government more accountable...
In February, the Winnipeg Free Press made a request for the briefing books prepared to help Fletcher learn his new portfolio. After a six-month delay, the newspaper was told it wouldn't be given even a single page.
"It has been determined that the information you requested may not be disclosed," came the letter from the Privy Council Office, dated Aug. 20.
A complaint to the federal information commissioner was made in September. This week, the Free Press learned that, because the Privy Council Office denied the information as advice to cabinet, even the information commissioner cannot request to see the documents in order to determine if the refusal was appropriate...
Duff Connacher, founder and co-ordinator of Democracy Watch, was astounded by the denial.
"It's deeply ironic and hypocritical to keep the briefing book for the minister of democratic reform a secret," said Connacher. "It just shows the cult and culture of excessive secrecy of this government."
4 comments:
I am sure the briefing book looks much like the manual on how to render parliamentary committees dysfunctional.
And is anyone (incl. Duff) actually surprised? (I know he has to say that for the sound bite value.)
I think that's a good one. Let's see some ads on it!
Ads would be good.
I don't believe "farce" accurately describes the way this government does business any longer. To paraphrase the Sex Pistols, this is a quasi-fascist regime who are in the process of making us morons. That we need to turf these thugs at the earliest possible date, is an understatement.
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