OPEN GOVERNEMENT CANADA CONFERENCE

March 8, 2000 - (Toronto) A new fight for greater access to public information in Canada begins this weekend.

More than 25 organizations representing librarians, media lawyers, non-profit groups, academics and journalists from across the country will gather in Toronto for the founding conference of Open Government Canada (OGC).

OGC, an initiative of the Canadian Association of Journalists, will be a national forum for networking and education among users of access to information legislation. It will also push for legislative changes granting greater access to public information.

And it's attracting support from a broad variety of groups and individuals from coast to coast.

"We're seeing a genuine swell of interest around the issue of access to information," said Robert Cribb, co-ordinator for OGC. "It's obvious that people across the country feel there are serious problems with the way governments restrict information held in the public trust. And now there's going to be a voice to help fight against growing government secrecy."

Recent events, such as public documents being destroyed by federal Department of National Defence officials and the reluctance of Human Resources Development Canada to release public spending information, point to the need for a strong national voice demanding greater government transparency.

"Access to government information is one of the burning issues among working journalists in Canada," says Phinjo Gombu, a board member of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, which supports the OGC initiative.

"CJFE fights for freedom of expression around the world. In Canada, the challenge is to make government fully accountable. We have to push the limits."

Toronto media lawyer Brian McLeod Rogers supports the new organization.

"It is too easy for the government and legislatures to ignore this issue because of the lack of focused support," says Rogers.

OGC organizers say providing that focused support will be the primary mandate of the new coalition. OGC's founding conference will be held Friday evening and Saturday in Toronto.

EVENT: OGC Founding Conference.
FRIDAY, 7 p.m.: Opening Plenary, Toronto Press Club, Ontario Room, 5th Floor, Commerce Court West, Toronto
SATURDAY, 9 a.m. to 6 pm.: Conference Sessions, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, 1 Harbour Square, Toronto
WEB SITE: www.opengovernmentcanada.org

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Robert Cribb, Vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, OGC Co-ordinator: 416-869-4411
Jeff Lee, reporter, Vancouver Sun, OGC co-ordinator: 604-328-5028
Phinjo Gombu, board member, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression: 416-869-4434