Right to Know Week

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner is very pleased to announce that the week of September 25-29 has been recognized across Canada as Right to Know Week.

September 28 is recognized around the world as International Right to Know Day. This recognition began at an international meeting of access to information advocates in Sofia, Bulgaria on September 28, 2002. Since that time countries around the world have promoted this date to raise awareness of citizens� rights to government information in the interests of open, accountable and transparent government. Currently, there are more than 60 countries with access to information legislation, and a number of other countries are in the process of developing such legislation.

In Canada, federal access to information legislation has been in force since 1984. In addition, every province and territory has a similar law in place, including this province�s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This year, in recognition of these laws, information and privacy commissioner offices across Canada are working together to promote open and transparent government by celebrating not only September 28, but the entire week of September 25-29 as Right to Know Week.

For more information on Right to Know Week please go to www.righttoknow.ca. In addition, a fact sheet on Right to Know Day is available on our web site at www.oipc.gov.nl.ca.

Media contact: Sandy Hounsell, Executive Director, (709) 729-6309

2006 09 15                   11:40 a.m.