Civil Rights Group Decries Government Secrecy Act

The BC Civil Liberties Association is opposing the provincial government's proposal to roll back access to
information laws by creating massive exemptions for government contracts. Bill 30 contains numerous
amendments to privacy and access laws in British Columbia, including shielding from access to information
a broad range of governmental contracts and partnerships with the private sector.

Jason Gratl, President, BCCLA: "The current legislation is based on a balancing of interests that is consistent
with other access laws in Canada. The proposed new law would shatter this balance, selling openness and
accountability down the river at a time when Canadians are acutely aware of scandals and failures of
accountability in government contracts. As more and more of the public sector is outsourced in private
partnerships, this legislation will have a devastating impact on the public's ability to hold its elected
representatives accountable."

Such changes to access to information laws have been unanimously rejected by all-party Special Committees
of the Legislative Assembly in the past. The BC Information and Privacy Commissioner has called for this
provision to be removed from the bill and notes that the government has put forward no justification for rolling
back the access laws.

Gratl: "Short and simple: this bill is a bid for governmental secrecy. It is darkly ironic to see such a bill at a
time when the country is still reeling from the recent sponsorship scandal. The consequences for democracy
and fiscal accountability are dire."

MEDIA CONTACTS
Jason Gratl, President 604-317-1919
Micheal Vonn, Policy Director 604-687-3013