Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a given that privacy is the very hallmark of security we have bargained for in subjecting ourselves to the rule of law. However, in the same breath, access to information for Members of this House is the cornerstone of democracy, consensus government, transparency and accountability. Democracy itself is weakened and public accountability crippled when access to important information is hampered or refused.
As a follow-up to my Member’s statement today, I wish to address questions to the Justice Minister on improving access to information for Members of this House and the public at large.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories has recommended numerous times, through her annual reporting, a need for the Department of Justice to review the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. What have been the barriers for the Department of Justice not to follow through with these repeated requests?
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the Member’s comments, and I understand the desire for Members to have access to all information that the Government of the Northwest Territories has, but I can’t stress enough that individuals do have a right to privacy, as do corporations. We do have a process where Members who need or desire specific information can request information, and if we, as Members and Ministers on this side, know who it’s coming from, we’re certainly happy to work with the Members to provide as much information as we can. But there will be situations where there are individuals or corporations who have specific information that they have a right to have private, and we have to all, as Members, respect that.
My question didn’t ask for a schooling on the rule of law here. My question simply is: When will the Justice department begin a comprehensive review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which was recently recommended by the Information and Privacy Commissioner and, as well, by the Standing Committee on Government Operations?
The standing committee made a number of recommendations with respect to the ATIPP Act, and recommendation number three asked the exact question that the Member is asking here today. In our response, which was tabled earlier this week, we indicated that we are doing that detailed progress report, and we will certainly have that to the committee within this current fiscal year.
It’s encouraging that we’re hearing a progress report, but will the Minister of Justice commit to the Members of this House that when we do this ATIPP review that one of the goals of this review will be to investigate MLAs having a broader range of information access under such rule of law?
Recognizing that individuals do have a right to privacy and there is certainly information that individuals and corporations may not want in the public sphere, including in the hands of MLAs, we are happy to work with committee on this request.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s response. The Minister mentioned earlier about a progress report, but will the Minister ensure that a complete review of the ATIPP Act is completed in time for all amendments to come forward within the life of the 17th Assembly?
If that is the wish of committee, we are happy to work with them.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Colleagues, before we continue on with Members’ oral questions, I’d like to welcome Mr. Geoff Wiest, chair of the Independent Commission on Members’ Compensation and Benefits; and Mr. David Krutko, a former Member and member of the commission. Welcome to the House.
The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
