A pro-transparency group is telling MPs to retool the Access to Information Act by dropping the application fee, imposing tighter timelines to respond to requests for files and narrowing exceptions to the law.
The changes are among 18 measures outlined by the group Democracy Watch in a submission to the House of Commons committee on information, privacy and ethics.
The federal access law allows people who pay $5 to ask for documents—from internal emails and expense claims to briefing memos and research reports—but it has long been criticized as outdated and poorly administered.
Federal agencies are supposed to respond within 30 days or provide valid reasons why more time is needed to process a request….