The Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec (FPJQ) is once again urging the Legault government to reform the law on access to information, which has been deemed outdated and problematic for years.
“Since 2018, 4 ministers have exchanged responsibility for the access to information file in the Government of Quebec. Nothing has changed, however, ”protest Michaël Nguyen and Éric-Pierre Champagne, president and vice-president of the FPJQ, in a letter which will be sent to the government on Wednesday and whose The duty got a copy.
Adopted more than 40 years ago by the government of René Lévesque, the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information aims to promote access to public order documents held by the State. .
However, in its current form, the law includes many exceptions and puts obstacles in the way for claimants. In addition to having to deal with ever-longer processing times, they too often receive heavily redacted documents or are denied access to the information requested.
In the opinion of the FPJQ, this situation complicates the work of journalists, and above all constitutes an obstacle to a healthy democracy. “For many, access to information is a ‘baby’ for journalists in need of news. […] But contrary to popular belief, access requests filed by journalists represent only a very small proportion of the total volume of requests. The large majority [d’entre elles] are presented by citizens, different organizations and sometimes even elected officials! can we read in the letter.
Long-standing request
This is not the first time that the FPJQ has publicly called for a reform of the law on access to information. In 2018, she made a public outing to this effect with the Quebec Press Council and several major media bosses. A request reiterated in June 2022 – on the eve of the Quebec elections – in a letter published in our pages, co-signed by around fifteen groups from all walks of life. “What has happened since? Nothing. Niet. nada », deplores the FPJQ today.
Since its election in 2018, the CAQ government has modernized the Privacy Act, but left the Access to Information Act untouched.
Questioned by the opposition parties during the study of the appropriations at the beginning of May, Minister Jean-François Roberge — now responsible for access to information within the cabinet — for the first time opened the door ajar to idea of tabling a reform project before the next elections. “It will take more than words this time,” write Michaël Nguyen and Éric-Pierre Champagne, believing that it is high time for a government to finally take action on this issue.
Remember that the last Liberal government of Philippe Couillard had undertaken to revise the law. He tabled a bill in extremis which was widely criticized and ultimately never passed.