Ottawa tightens up information tap

Year Published:  1989
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX3677

Abstract: 
The federal Conservative government has moved to tighten controls on information being made available to the public. A computerized system has been set up to vet all requests under the Access to Information Act. All departments receiving a request for information are being required to search the system to see if there are parallel requests made to other departments and to follow them up by contacting those other departments. They will also be required to identify any requests that involve "major legal or policy issues." The new computerized system follows a previous directive from the Prime Minister's office that all government departments had to contact the PMO before "releasing potentially embarrassing information".