Mason: Make ministers accountable

September 09, 2011

Alberta’s NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason is calling for sweeping changes aimed at boosting accountability following a controversy over the actions of PC leadership candidate Ted Morton.

“These shenanigans are another example of how, new leader or old, the PCs are the most secretive government in Canada. It reminds Albertans that it’s time for changes,” Mason says. “What I’m proposing would make ministers properly accountable for their decisions.”

Mason says the NDP would bring legislative changes that would make it clear that ministers must conduct government business only through government e-mail addresses, and that all those addresses must be declared to the Information and Privacy commissioner, along with FOIP directors.

Secondly, the new legislation would require all ministers’ e-mails to be digitally archived. Access to those records would still be governed by FOIP rules.

Thirdly, it would allow ministerial briefings to be accessible through FOIP. The current restriction on accessing advice to a minister – a highly discretionary decision – is commonly used excuse to block public access to information.

“The minister’s work belongs to the public. An Alberta NDP government would not cloak itself in secrecy like the PCs have,” Mason says.