When in opposition, the Tories made ample use of the access law to obtain information on wrongdoing in the Liberal government. Now that the Tories are in power, some critics argue they've dropped support for the access law and are trying to shut down the system.
"You cannot argue for better accountability, which this government does, unless you have a strong Access to Information Act and have it applied rigorously."
According to Mr. Etienne Allard (Mr. O'Connor's spokesman), it is up to Defence Department bureaucrats to manage the release of such government records to the public through the access to information law. Mr. O'Connor is committed to openness and transparency, but "At the end of the day, department officials make recommendations on severances and as a minister he doesn't interfere in the process."
Perhaps they've forgotten the part in the access to information legislation that details that a minister is responsible for the way the law is managed in his or her department?
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