Letter to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) (July 2025)

July 8, 2025

John Brassard, M.P.
Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6 

Dear Mr. Chair:

Please accept my sincere congratulations on your re-election as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI).

As you are likely aware, the government launched its first five-year review of the Access to Information Act on June 20, 2025. As I noted in my recent letter to the Prime Minister, there is a broad consensus that an overhaul of both the legislation and the system is urgently needed. Multiple studies and reviews─including the one concluded by the ETHI Committee in 2023─have highlighted widespread agreement on the necessary changes, which is why I hope that this review will be conducted expeditiously.

I have written a letter to the President of the Treasury Board in which I share my views on important principles that should guide their review, and I will be following its progress with keen interest. I intend to once again play an active role in this essential exercise and will make myself available to appear before the ETHI Committee at any time to discuss the review or any other access-related issues that may be of interest to you and your colleagues.

Should you or other members of the ETHI Committee have any questions following this letter, please have the committee staff contact Manon Côté, my Manager of Parliamentary and Stakeholders Relations, by email (manon.cote@oic‐ci.gc.ca).

Sincerely,

Caroline Maynard
Information Commissioner of Canada

c.c.: Ms. Linda Lapointe, Vice-Chair
Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

Mr. Luc Thériault, Vice-Chair
Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

Ms. Nancy Vohl, Clerk
Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics