Sep 1, 2010

Whitehorse, Yukon, September 1, 2010 – Governments at all levels in Canada should embrace open government principles to enhance transparency and accountability. In a joint resolution issued today, federal and all provincial and territorial Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners are endorsing and promoting these principles while calling on their respective governments to demonstrate their commitment to a culture of openness.

“Open Government is about promoting a new way of viewing the role of government and the participation of citizens in it,” says Yukon Ombudsman and Information and Privacy Commissioner, Tracy-Anne McPhee. “Knowing what kind of information Canadians want and making it proactively available is a fundamental feature of an open, democratic and transparent government.”

The Open Government Resolution is the product of the annual meeting of Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners from federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada, being held in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Around the world, many governments have recognized that providing better and free access to their information promotes citizen engagement, instills trust in government and ultimately results in more open and responsive democratic government.

The resolution is available on the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada’s website, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's website.