(Ottawa) A new report indicates that Library and Archives Canada often does not respond to requests for historical documents in a timely manner.
Posted at 2:24 p.m.
Federal Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard’s special report, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, says nearly 80% of requests handled by Library and Archives Canada during her investigation did not meet the timelines set out in the Information Act. access to information.
The commissioner points out that Library and Archives Canada is increasingly the target of “strong criticism” from journalists, academics and other users who denounce excessive waiting times.
Mme Maynard points to two key issues: lengthy consultations between the archives and other agencies about what information can be released, and the lack of a “whole-of-government framework” for declassifying documents.
The Information Commissioner points out that the Minister of Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, has agreed to implement most of her recommendations to improve the state, which she describes as “deplorable”, of the access program to information from Library and Archives Canada.
Mme Maynard adds, however, that she “remains disappointed” that the minister “does not seem to be committed to making concrete and significant improvements”.