From Principle to Practice: Enhancing Access in the Public Service Ross Hodgins Special advisor to the Assistant Commissioner Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada Carleton University September 30, 2010 1

Processing Access Requests: Roles and Responsibilities Access to information analysts Senior officials Program officers Lawyers Communication officers

Countdown of Ten Common Myths 10. Institutions must create new records to respond to access requests.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths 10. Institutions must create new records to respond to access requests. Classifying documents as “confidential” or “secret” will protect all of the information contained in them.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths 10. Institutions must create new records to respond to access requests. Classifying documents as “confidential” or “secret” will protect all of the information contained in them. 8. Marginal notes or “sticky notes” on documents are not part of the record.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths 10. Institutions must create new records to respond to access requests. Classifying documents as “confidential” or “secret” will protect all of the information contained in them. 8. Marginal notes or “sticky notes” on documents are not part of the record. 7. Advice and recommendations by external consultants can automatically be protected.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths 10. Institutions must create new records to respond to access requests. Classifying documents as “confidential” or “secret” will protect all of the information contained in them. 8. Marginal notes or “sticky notes” on documents are not part of the record. 7. Advice and recommendations by external consultants can automatically be protected. 6. When a document contains any advice or recommendations to the Minister, the entire record qualifies for exemption.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths Ministers’ notes and those of Ministerial staff to Departmental officials are excluded from the purview of the Act.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths Ministers’ notes and those of Ministerial staff to Departmental officials are excluded from the purview of the Act. Program experts make the decisions regarding the disclosure of information.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths Ministers’ notes and those of Ministerial staff to Departmental officials are excluded from the purview of the Act. Program experts make the decisions regarding the disclosure of information. 3. An exemption can be used to “blanket” or withhold the entire record.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths Ministers’ notes and those of Ministerial staff to Departmental officials are excluded from the purview of the Act. Program experts make the decisions regarding the disclosure of information. 3. An exemption can be used to “blanket” or withhold the entire record. There is an exemption for information that the requester clearly will not understand or could misinterpret.

Countdown of Ten Common Myths Ministers’ notes and those of Ministerial staff to Departmental officials are excluded from the purview of the Act. Program experts make the decisions regarding the disclosure of information. 3. An exemption can be used to “blanket” or withhold the entire record. There is an exemption for information that the requester clearly will not understand or could misinterpret. 1. There is an exemption for information that could potentially embarrass politicians and/or bureaucrats.