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Domestic and International Access to Information Initiatives

Appearance before OGGO (February 5, 2026)

Canada’s ranking

  • Canada currently ranks 52nd in the Global Right to Information (RTI) Rating.
  • This ranking reflects lax timelines, broad exceptions, no public interest override, and blanket exceptions for certain authorities.
    • Countries with similar rankings to Canada include Australia, the U.K., and Sweden.
  • The RTI rating is a useful tool for assessing legislation, but access to information also depends on how the law is applied in practice and the country’s political environment.
    • Countries ranked higher than Canada have recently adopted or overhauled laws.
  • Examples of improvements to the legislation that could help raise Canada’s ranking include measures such as limiting exceptions for information over 20 years old, adding a public interest override, extending the right of access to private bodies performing public functions or receiving public funding.
  • The Centre for Law and Democracy’s RTI Rating assesses countries’ legal framework across seven areas: Right of Access, Scope, Requesting Procedures, Exceptions and Refusals, Appeals, Sanctions and Protections, and Promotional Measures.

International Examples of Access to Information Initiatives 

Declassification

  • Five Eyes allies have declassification schemes:
  • In Australia, access to records generated by Australian security and intelligence agencies remains restrictive. However, the Australian government has decided to invest in the commissioning and publication of a range of independent, official histories of key elements of the Australian community, including Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (2015) and Defence Signals Directorate (2023).
  • In the United Kingdom (U.K.), there is a reduced transfer period for government records. In the new system that is being implemented, records would be placed in the U.K. National Archives under a 20-year rule, replacing the long standing 30-year rule, which was once also the standard, pre-ATIA, in Canada.
    • In 2013, the government began its move towards releasing records when they are 20 years old, instead of 30.
    • The transition began in 2013 with the transfer of records from 1983 and 1984, followed in 2014 by records from 1985 and 1986.
    • Two years of records were then transferred each year, completing the transition in 2022 with records from 2001 and 2002.
  • In the United States, records that have been requested three or more times must be made available for public inspection in an electronic format (often in a "FOIA Reading Room" or "Electronic Reading Room" on agency websites).
  • Freedom of Information Act § 552.(a)(2)(D)(II)
  • In Spain, the government proposed a bill in 2025 to automatically declassify all secret government files older than 45 years, including documents from Francisco Franco’s dictatorship and its transition to democracy.
  • In Brazil, the access to information legislation contains a clause stating that exceptions to protect public interests do not apply to information which is over 20 years old. Ultra-secret information is classified for 25 years.
  • In New Zealand, information related to international relations and national security is open access 25 years after the date of last action, subject to review by the Archives Declassification Panel to ensure that release would not pose a significant risk to international relationships.

Frequently published statistics

  • In Australia, government agencies submit quarterly and annual statistics on freedom of information (FOI) activity, review numbers and estimated costs to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
    • There is a statistics dashboard that presents key freedom of information data over the last 5 years.
  • In Scotland, every 3 months, public authorities send the Information Commissioner data about FOI and environmental information (EIRs) requests they have received, and how they have responded.
    • Public authorities with over 100 full time equivalent (FTE) employees are required to publish details of their performance on handling requests for information under FOIA 2000. This is part 8.5 of the section 45 code of practice.

Processing of requests

  • New Zealand is using artificial intelligence to triage access requests.
    • Microsoft published a report on their partnership with the New Zealand Public Service.
    • Improvements included:
      • Expedited Triage and Routing: Incoming requests are reviewed and routed to the appropriate business unit using AI capabilities, ensuring timely and accurate handling.
      • Automated Response Drafting: Specialised AI tools used to quickly compare incoming requests against previous responses and draft initial replies that maintain consistency and accuracy.
      • Improved Reporting and Insights: Robust data and reporting capabilities enable agencies to gain insights, identify trends, and make informed decisions to improve efficiency. 

Legislative features

  • Internationally, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Brazil have public interest overrides.
  • In Australia, there is no processing charge if an agency fails to respond within the statutory timeframe.
  • Ukraine incorporates a harm-test and public interest override, and only a small number of overbroad exceptions.
  • In 2010, changes to the Australian FOI Act now includes new principles that unequivocally convey a presumption of disclosure. The objects clause declares that government information is a national resource that is to be managed for public purposes; a uniform public interest test has been added to many exemptions, that are now called ‘conditional exemptions’.
    • 3(3) The Parliament also intends, by these objects, to increase recognition that information held by the Government is to be managed for public purposes, and is a national resource.

Public awareness

  • The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner was established with a diverse range of functions that include investigating complaints, conducting merit review of access refusals, publishing FOI guidelines that agencies are required to consider, monitoring agency FOI administration, conducting training and public awareness activities, and promoting open government.
  • Spain, Australia and South Africa have public awareness responsibilities codified in their laws.

Domestic Examples of Access to Information Initiatives 

Legislative features

  • At the federal level in Canada, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer have an independent funding model.
  • In British Columbia, the access to information legislation includes a public interest override.
  • The Privacy Commissioner, the Commissioner of Official Languages, and the Commissioner of Lobbying have public awareness responsibilities under their mandate.

Frequently published statistics

  • Ontario is developing a statistics reporting portal for institutions under Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
    • All written requests under s.24, s.47, and s.48 of FIPPA must be reported to the IPC, including those that have been withdrawn or abandoned.
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