News July 18, 2018

Call for nominations – Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy

The Canadian Association of Journalists, the Centre for Free Expression, News Media Canada and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression are inviting nominations for the Code of Silence Award for outstanding achievement in government secrecy. The award will be given annually in each of four categories -- federal, provincial, municipal and police services – starting this fall.

If you have met resistance in getting information from a public body, please send us your nomination for a deserving award recipient along with the reasons why it should be chosen. Nominations will be considered by a jury who will select the "winners." Awards will be presented in October and November at public events in the cities in which each of the recipients is located.

Nominations must be submitted by September 15th, 2018. They should be sent to Ange Holmes, Coordinator, Centre for Free Expression, Ryerson University either by email (ange.holmes@ryerson.ca) or by mail (350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3). All nominations will be acknowledged and all nominators will be invited to the awards ceremonies.

Appel de candidatures – Prix Code of Silence reconnaissant une contribution exceptionnelle à la culture du secret au sein d’une administration publique

L’Association canadienne des journalistes, le Centre for Free Expression, Médias d’info Canada et Canadian Journalists for Free Expression sollicitent les mises en candidature au prix Code of Silence (code du silence), qui reconnaît une contribution exceptionnelle à la culture du secret au sein d’une administration publique. Dès cet automne, le prix sera décerné chaque année à un service public dans chacune des quatre catégories suivantes : administration fédérale, administration provinciale, administration municipale et service de police.

Si un service public est demeuré muet face à vos demandes d’informations répétées, soumettez-nous sa candidature, et indiquez les raisons pour lesquelles vous estimez qu’il mérite de recevoir ce prix. Un jury examinera les candidatures proposées et sélectionnera les « gagnants ». Les prix seront remis en octobre et en novembre prochains lors de cérémonies publiques dans les villes où sont établis les lauréats.

Les candidatures doivent être envoyées au plus tard le 31 août 2018, à Ange Holmes, coordonnatrice au Centre for Free Expression de l’Université Ryerson, par courriel (ange.holmes@ryerson.ca) ou par la poste (350, rue Victoria, Toronto (Ont.), M5B 2K3). Toutes les candidatures proposées seront dévoilées aux cérémonies de remise de prix, en présence de leurs auteurs.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services' chill on access to information recognized with Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy

The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) has been selected as this year's recipient of the Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy in the municipal category for its efforts to charge exorbitantly high fees for access to a fire investigation report already paid for by taxpayers.

CFE joins 13 other organizations in deploring government plans to rush the Countering Foreign Interference Act through Parliament without allowing meaningful study

In an open letter today to the members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, the Centre for Free Expression and 13 other civil society organizations expressed their deep concerns with the speed with which Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act, is currently being rushed through the legislative process.

Nova Scotia premier's office recognized with award for punting promises to empower province's information and privacy commissioner

The Premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the provincial Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy for his bait-and-switch on the 2021 election promise by his own government-to-be to strengthen his province's notoriously toothless freedom of information law by giving order-making power to its information. commissioner.