Briefing Notes: Balance Transparency and Deputy Ministers

briefing notes: The bill faced heavy criticism during the two years it took to wend its way through Parliament, according to CTV. One of the beefs was that the Liberals did not fulfil their promise to expand the act to include ministers' offices. The bill updates Ottawa's oft-criticized access-to-information regime, which the Liberals had promised during the last election to strengthen. The government said it needed to balance transparency with parliamentary privilege. It also requires the disclosure of certain briefing notes for ministers and deputy ministers. Largely overlooked was a section of the bill ordering the regular release of information about expenses incurred and contracts signed by senior government officials, members of Parliament, senators, ministers and federal judges. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.