Does the Government Fear the Public's Right to Know?

Do they have reason to? Are they afraid of John Reid's Competence? Is there "backtracking" from the Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler?

CIVIL CIRCLES -- Who will be next access 'guru'? Access to Information Commissioner John Reid's term is up on June 30, but the government still hasn't decided who will take over. MPs say that stinks. Bea Vongdouangchanh, The Hill Times, June 20th, 2005

The House Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, last week tabled its report recommending that Mr. Reid's term, which ends June 30, be extended by one year. The House voted overwhelmingly to adopt the report but opposition MPs said the Liberal government intends to ignore the recommendation and appoint a new commissioner.

Some names being tossed around were Robert Marleau and Michel Drapeau.

"The image is that John Reid is a thorn [to the Liberals] so they have to get rid of him, but where does that leave the public's right to know? I know they prefer to get rid of his senior staff and I know they would prefer to have a more tame person," Mr. Rubin said. [. . . . ]

Might I suggest that John Reid seems to have been competent enough that he be kept on? If the ADSCAM, sponsorship slush fund government doesn't want him, is that not an excellent recommendation?

Failing that, consider someone not out of the Centre, maybe someone out of the West or someone not connected to . . . whatever has been and will be revealed. How utterly ridiculous that the group withholding the information is appointing the individual who will decide what information will be allowed to get out. Where are those whose names are being mentioned as potential replacements from? Could one guess?

This appointment and the democratic deficit will not be fixed by the government holding the documents and information, the same government which has prepared whistleblower legislation designed expressly to protect themselves . . . Bah, humbug. The very idea is risible.

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