Thursday, January 1, 2026
ADVT 
National

Information watchdog slams RCMP on access failures

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Nov, 2020 06:44 PM
  • Information watchdog slams RCMP on access failures

The federal information commissioner is blasting Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and the RCMP for what she suggests is a complete disregard for transparency and accountability.

The assessment comes in a new report in which Caroline Maynard takes the Mounties to task for failing to address long-standing issues in the handling of access-to-information requests.

That includes a growing backlog of requests for information from Canadians, as well problems with handling such requests properly.

Maynard also criticizes Blair and the federal Liberal government for seemingly not taking the issue seriously and providing the necessary leadership to address the problem.

The report today is only the latest from the commissioner to chide federal departments for failing to uphold the Canadian public's right to government information.

The Liberals first promised during the 2015 federal election to strengthen Canada's access-to-information regime, but Maynard has said complaints about the system have been increasing.

MORE National ARTICLES

Punch thrown at a Port Coquitlam intersection between a pedestrian and a passenger

Punch thrown at a Port Coquitlam intersection between a pedestrian and a passenger
Earlier this month, a heated exchange between a pedestrian and a passenger in a vehicle ended with a punch being thrown at an intersection in Port Coquitlam. 

Punch thrown at a Port Coquitlam intersection between a pedestrian and a passenger

COVID-19 infections rising in young people

COVID-19 infections rising in young people
More young people are being infected with COVID-19, creating the potential for a severe outbreak, scientists warn.

COVID-19 infections rising in young people

Scientists create polar bear survival timeline

Scientists create polar bear survival timeline
The climate-change clock is ticking on the world's polar bears and a group of Canadian and U.S. scientists say they've determined when that time will run out.

Scientists create polar bear survival timeline

Anxiety high as Canadian schools prepare for students from COVID-ravaged U.S.

Anxiety high as Canadian schools prepare for students from COVID-ravaged U.S.
Post-secondary students from the pandemic-riven United States are getting ready to go back to school in Canada — a rite of passage that's causing more anxiety than usual for parents and front-line university workers alike in the age of COVID-19.

Anxiety high as Canadian schools prepare for students from COVID-ravaged U.S.

UPDATE: B.C. officer dies following off-duty assault

UPDATE: B.C. officer dies following off-duty assault
Abbotsford Police Force Constable Allan Young who was on life support has now died of his injuries. 

UPDATE: B.C. officer dies following off-duty assault

Surrey RCMP charge man with 17 mail theft offences

Surrey RCMP charge man with 17 mail theft offences
Following a four-month investigation, charges have been laid against a 30-year-old Surrey man in relation to a series of mail thefts that occurred in multiple Lower Mainland jurisdictions.

Surrey RCMP charge man with 17 mail theft offences