Canada celebrates international Right to Know Day

Ottawa , September 28, 2011 - Information Commissioner of Canada Suzanne Legault is joining countries around the world to celebrate Right to Know Day on September 28, 2011.

Celebrated once a year, Right to Know Week raises awareness about people's right to access information held by public bodies, and, marks the benefits of transparent and accessible government.

"As we celebrate our nation's 6^th Right to Know Week, I am encouraged by Canada's recent commitment to participate in the Open Government Partnership - a positive step towards the principles of open and accountable government," said Ms. Legault. "But there remains a lot of work to be done. Our government must strive to keep pace with technology, and it must regain its leadership role if it is to remain responsive to citizens' access to information needs and expectations," she added.

This year, provincial and territorial information and privacy ombudsman and commissioner offices are coordinating efforts once again to mark Right to Know Week with numerous activities and festivities across Canada.

In Ottawa, celebrations will trickle into October where the Office of the Information Commissioner, in partnership with the Canadian Bar Association, will host the 2nd Annual Privacy and Access Law Symposium, in conjunction with the 7^th International Conference of Information Commissioners on October 3-5. The Conference, entitled Access to Information: A Pillar of Democracy, will provide the community of international commissioners, practitioners and advocates with a forum to exchange ideas for the advancement of access to information worldwide.

Internationally, RTK Day began on September 28, 2002, in Sofia, Bulgaria at an international meeting of access to information advocates who proposed that a day be dedicated to the promotion of freedom of information worldwide.

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For more information about events scheduled in the various regions, visit the official Right to Know website at http://www.righttoknow.ca/

For more information on the 2nd Annual Privacy and Access Law Symposium, and the 7^th International Conference of Information Commissioners, please visit: http://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/eng/icic-cici.aspx

Media requests:

Thérèse Boisclair
Director Strategic Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
613-943-4368

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Canada celebrates international Right to Know Day

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