OTTAWA — Highlights of information commissioner Suzanne Legault's special report to Parliament on Access to Information reform:
—Fill gaps in the law's coverage by extending it to agencies including ministers' offices and institutions that support Parliament and the courts;
—Establish a legal duty to document government decisions;
—Limit time extensions beyond the initial 30 days to 60 additional days, unless the information commissioner approves more time to answer a request;
—Make cabinet records less than 20 years old subject to the law;
—Loosen various restrictions that allow agencies to withhold information;
—Create a general public interest override for release of information that embeds the principle of openness by default;
—Give information commissioner power to order the release of records;
—Require government to disclose more information automatically;
—Create new penalties for failure to comply with the law;
—Ensure the law is reviewed every five years.
