Scrapping FOI fees a positive sign
Orillia Today Opinion
Those seeking to unveil a sinister cover-up, or probe dark government secrets, will surely welcome Ottawa’s move to scrap large fees for federal freedom of information queries.
Requests for information in Ottawa will only require a $5 application fee. Gone are the massive potential administrative charges that could easily discourage people from seeking information that, by right, they should be able to access.
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This is a good news story, but no one should hold their breath waiting for municipalities to follow suit. It’s just not as easy for a local government to absorb the expense.
In Oro-Medonte, for example, Mayor Harry Hughes wants to move in the opposite direction entirely.
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One can sympathize that municipalities would prefer not to have FOI requests tie up too much of their budgets, but in Canada we have to err on the side of openness and transparency.
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