September 28, 2009 is international Right to Know Day. This annual event celebrates the right of individual access to information held by public bodies, and the benefits of transparent, accessible government.

The week of September 28 to October 2, 2009 is being marked in Canadian provinces, territories and federally as Right to Know Week. In Manitoba, Right to Know Week is being noted in several ways. Manitoba Ombudsman is helping to provide information on right to know events hosted by organizations and communities recognizing this fundamental democratic right.

Some Upcoming Events in Manitoba

Tuesday, September 29, 2009, Winnipeg

Free public presentation, Janet Keeping, President of the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership, Calgary, will speak on “The Struggle against Corruption: The Rule of Law and ‘Right to Know’ - an international perspective”.

Where	University of Winnipeg Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall 515 Portage Avenue
Time	3:45 - 4:30 p.m.
Contact	Gail Perry, Sr. Legislative and Policy Analyst Manitoba Ombudsman Tel. 982-9139 (Winnipeg); 1-800-665-0531 (toll free in Manitoba)
Sponsors	Canadian Association of Journalists (Manitoba) Canadian Taxpayers Federation (Manitoba) Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba) Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties Manitoba Bar Association Manitoba Ombudsman Manitoba Public Insurance Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba Winnipeg Free Press University of Winnipeg Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Wendy Elliott, Privacy Consultant

Wednesday, September 30, 2009, Winnipeg

Free public presentation, Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba) Annual General Meeting. Ombudsman, Irene Hamilton, will speak on "Your Right to Know and the Manitoba Ombudsman".
(Optional: the free public presentation will be preceded by dinner at 5:45 p.m., $15.00, R.S.V.P. dinner only by September 25, phone 452-2572.)

Where	Manitoba Legislative Building Dining Room 450 Broadway Avenue
Time	7:00-8:00 p.m.
Contact	Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba) Tel. 452-2576 (Winnipeg)
Sponsors	Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba) Manitoba Ombudsman

Announcements

To date, eight governments in Manitoba have indicated their intention to declare “Right to Know Week” in their jurisdiction. PDF copies of the proclamations and other documents are available in English (Manitoba, Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Thompson and Winkler) and in French (Manitoba).

News Releases

September 28, 2009	Janet Keeping heads Manitoba Right to Know Celebrations as Keynote Speaker. News Release
September 28, 2009	To date, eight governments in Manitoba have indicated their intention to declare “Right to Know Week” in their jurisdiction. PDF copies of the proclamations and other documents are available in English (Manitoba, Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Thompson and Winkler) and in French (Manitoba).
September 25, 2009	Ombudsman Attends Signing of Right to Know Proclamation by Brandon Mayor News Release

Past Right to Know Events in 2009

Sunday, April 19 2009, Winnipeg

What	Right to Know Courtroom Exhibition Law Day 2009 Open House
Where	Winnipeg Law Courts Building
	During the Law Day 2009 Open House, representatives from the Manitoba Right to Know Committee informed the public on the individual’s right to access information held in the public sector by such bodies as provincial and municipal governments, hospitals, school divisions, universities and colleges.

Member Organizations of the 2009 Manitoba Right to Know Committee

Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba)

Canadian Association of Journalists (Manitoba)

Canadian Taxpayers Federation (Manitoba)

Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties

Manitoba Bar Association

Manitoba Public Insurance

Manitoba Ombudsman

Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba

Wendy Elliott, Privacy Consultant

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority