Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Executive Council
September 26, 2014
Right to Know (RTK) Week 2014 Essay Competition
As part of the celebrations for Right to Know (RTK) Week (September 22-28), the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) and the Office of Public Engagement (OPE) are launching the 4th RTK Week Essay Competition, along with co-sponsors Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and College of the North Atlantic (CNA).
The purpose of RTK Week is to raise awareness of everyone’s right to access government information, while promoting freedom of information as essential to both democracy and good governance.
The RTK Week Essay Competition helps further this purpose, particularly amongst secondary and post-secondary students. For the 2014 competition, entrants are asked to write on the timely topic of ‘Open Government.’ In 2014, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launched its ‘Open Government Initiative,’ joining other governments across Canada and around the world in committing to principles of transparency, accountability, participation and collaboration. In reflecting upon this development, students are asked to address: What does ‘Open Government’ mean to you?
The winning essay writer in this year’s competition will be awarded a prize valued at $500.00, with the second and third place prizes valued at $200.00 and $100.00, respectively. In addition to cash awards, the winning essays and names of the winners may also be published on the websites or promotional material of the co-sponsoring organizations. Award-winning essays are chosen anonymously by a panel of judges representing and comprised of the organizations involved.
This contest is open to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians studying at the secondary or post-secondary level, as well as non-residents studying at Newfoundland and Labrador secondary and post-secondary institutions. Entries are to be a maximum of 1,000 words, and must be submitted directly to the OIPC via e-mail at commissioner@oipc.nl.ca, or at the below address, postmarked no later than December 31, 2014:
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
P.O. Box 13004, Station A
St. John’s, NL A1B 3V8
For full contest details and restrictions, please see the OIPC website at www.oipc.nl.ca 
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Media contacts:
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Ed Ring Information and Privacy Commissioner 709-729-6309 |
Kip Bonnell Communications Manager Office of Public Engagement kbonnell@gov.nl.ca 709-729-1221, 687-9081 |
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Roger Hulan Communications Specialist College of the North Atlantic roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca 709-643-7938 |