September 23 – 28, 2013 is Right to Know Week in Canada and many countries around the world. This annual event raises awareness of an individual’s right to access government information, while promoting freedom of information as essential to democracy and good governance.
Information and Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton is hosting full-day forums in Edmonton (September 24) and Calgary (September 26) in recognition of Right to Know Week. “These forums are an opportunity to highlight and discuss ideas, concepts and challenges in making information accessible,” says Commissioner Clayton.
Speakers participating in these forums include:
- The Honourable Manmeet Bhullar, Minister of Service Alberta (Edmonton event)
- Brent Rathgeber, Q.C., Member of Parliament for Edmonton – St. Albert
- Lorna Stefanick, Ph.D., author of Controlling Knowledge: Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection in a Networked World
- Barbara Carra, Ph.D., Strategic Policy Developer, Cybera
- Cathryn Landreth, Assistant Deputy Minister, Information Services, Service Alberta (Edmonton event)
- Mark Diner, Chief Advisor, Open Government and Transparency, Service Alberta (Edmonton event)
- Tom Seaman, FOIP Disclosure Officer, City of Calgary (Calgary event)
The inaugural recipient of the Robert C. Clark Award for advancing access to information in Alberta will also be announced at the Edmonton forum.