Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's Annual Report 2003-2004 and commends it to the House.
Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's Annual Report 2003-2004
Background
The NWT's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, ATIPP, came into force on December 31, 1996. The purpose of the act is to make public bodies more accountable and to protect personal privacy by giving the public a right of access, with limited exceptions, to records held by the GNWT and related public bodies, and by preventing the unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal information by the GNWT and related public bodies. The act also gives individuals the right to see and make corrections to information about themselves.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly and is required, under section 68 of the act, to prepare and submit an annual report. Ms. Elaine Keenan-Bengts was reappointed as the NWT's Information and Privacy Commissioner in the May-June 2005 session, for another five-year term.
Several amendments to the act came into force April 1, 2004, including new powers for the Commissioner to investigate and make recommendations on privacy complaints. Many of these amendments were made in response to recommendations the Commissioner made in previous annual reports. Additional amendments to the act have passed third reading and are ready for assent by the Commissioner of the NWT.
General Comments
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight held a public meeting with Ms. Keenan-Bengts on June 29, 2005, to review her 2003-2004 annual report.
The committee was pleased to note that in her opening comments, the Commissioner commented on the positive trend toward openness and transparency among government departments since the act came into force over eight years ago. The Commissioner emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture of openness within GNWT agencies and noted that most departments are moving slowly, but surely, toward this. She stressed the crucial role that bureaucrats play in portraying openness, accountability and garnering the trust of the public vis-...-vis government.