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John Reid to celebrate Right to Know Week in Brandon

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Sep 24, 2007

Mayor Dave Burgess has proclaimed September 28th to October 5th Right to Know Week in Brandon. Brandon joins other progressive Canadian communities in celebrating the right of access to information held by public sector bodies and the benefits of transparent, accessible government. Right to Know Day, September 28th, will be observed in over 60 nations.

Mr. John Reid, Canada’s Information Commissioner from 1998 to 2006, will be helping to mark Right to Know Week in Brandon. Mr. Reid will be speaking on the topic, “Twenty Years Later: The Increasing Importance of Access to Information Legislation,” at:

Brandon City Hall, main floor
410 – 9th Street
Friday, October 5, 2007
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
(free of charge, seating available)

Mr. Reid has long been a passionate advocate of the critical importance of access to information for a healthy democracy. He is a dynamic speaker known to candidly express his views on the openness of government.

As Information Commissioner, Mr. Reid was an independent ombudsman who considered complaints and compliance under the federal Access to Information Act. His distinguished public service also includes 19 years as a Member of Parliament, Canadian representative on the Organization for Security and Cooperation Europe Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and political Advisor to the Chief Electoral Officer on UN Transitional Administration in eastern Slovenia (Southern Croatia).

This event has been arranged by the Manitoba Right to Know Committee, having representatives from Manitoba Ombudsman, the Canadian Association of Journalists (Manitoba), Canadian Taxpayers Federation (Manitoba), Manitoba Bar Association and Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba.