ARCHIVED - Agents of Parliament, Canadian Wheat Board and Foundations Brought Under Access to Information

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Canada's New Government is delivering on its commitment to Implement the Federal Accountability Act

February 22, 2007

Ottawa - The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today announced that the Canadian Wheat Board, five foundations and Agents of Parliament will be subject to the Access to Information Act starting April 1, 2007.

"Canada's New Government is delivering on one of the key commitments of the Federal Accountability Act by providing Canadians with broader and better access to more information from the Canadian Wheat Board, government-funded foundations and Agents of Parliament," said Minister Toews. "By expanding the coverage of the Access to Information Act, government is now more open and transparent than ever," added Minister Toews.

"I'm particularly pleased to be part of a government that, for the first time, is increasing transparency within the Wheat Board. Western grain farmers deserve the highest level of accountability and transparency from the Wheat Board. Opening it up to Access to Information is a critical step in ensuring that accountability and transparency," Minister Toews said.

Specifically, the Federal Accountability Act expands the coverage of the Access to Information Act to the Canadian Wheat Board as well as to the following foundations:

Canada Foundation for Innovation;
Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology;
Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation;
Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada; and
The Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation.

The Federal Accountability Act also expands the coverage of the Access to Information Act to the following Agents of Parliament:

Office of the Information Commissioner;
Office of the Privacy Commissioner;
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages;
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer; and
Office of the Auditor General.

This is the first of two steps in the expansion of the Access to Information Act. The Government of Canada continues to work to put in place the regulations and elements required to implement the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan, namely to bring all Crown corporations and wholly owned subsidiaries under the Access to Information Act.

This announcement is part of the implementation of the Federal Accountability Act, which received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006. Through the Federal Accountability Act and its accompanying Action Plan, Canada's New Government has brought forward specific measures to strengthen accountability in government. More information on the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan is available at www.accountability.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666

Robert Makichuk
Chief, Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.