Proactive Publication Guidance - Access to Information Act

What is Proactive Publication?

In 2019, Bill C-58 received royal assent bringing into force the most significant changes to the Access to Information Act (ATIA) since it's inception in 1983. Amongst several important changes was the introduction of Part II: Proactive Publication of Information. Proactive Publications are records considered to be of public interest (briefing materials, travel and hospitality expenses incurred etc.) bodies subject to the Act must publish on a scheduled basis. All government Proactive Publication materials are available on the Open Government Portal for a minimum of 10 years.

What Proactive Publication requirements are government departments subject to?

The Act distinguishes requirements between the various types of institutions subject to the Act. for Crown Corporations and all other departments subject to the Act. Departments that are not Crown Corporations are defined as 'government institutions' and listed in Schedule I. institutions named in schedule I, a division or branch of the federal public administration set out in column I of Schedule I.1, or a corporation named in Schedule II of the Financial Administration Act are

The ATIA distinguishes between requirements for Crown Corporations and all other institutions In all, Proactive Publication requirements apply to:

• the Prime Minister’s Office
• ministers’ offices
• federal departments, agencies, administrative tribunals and boards
• Crown corporations
• other federal institutions, such as Port Authorities
• Senators
• members of Parliament
• the administrative institutions that support Parliament and the courts

This change has significantly expanded the openness and transparency of government information and provided Canadians with unprecedented insight into the government’s priorities, decision-making and operations. Since these requirements came into force in June 2019, the Open Government Portal has given the public access to over 35,000 briefing note titles and more than 1,600 Question Period notes.

For example, Canadians can now find the titles of briefing notes to ministers and deputy ministers, Question Period notes for ministers, briefing packages prepared for incoming deputies and ministers, and materials prepared for appearances at Parliamentary Committees online at the Open Government Portal. The Portal is easy to use, allowing users to search for the type of record they wish to access, the institution it comes from, or subject matters of interest.