Access to Information

Using FOIP to Increase Government Accountability

During the past couple of years, the AFL has been attempting to access important records from the Alberta government that will enhance accountability and give working Albertans a better understanding of how its government operates.

Not surprisingly, the government has been reluctant to give out this information, and so the AFL has had to fight to gain access. The AFL has appealed the decisions of government departments to the Alberta Privacy Commissioner, requesting that his office review the government's refusal to release information that is clearly in the public interest.

After more than two-and-a-half years (and counting), some of our appeals are starting to be finalized. They are summarized below. This page will be updated as more Commissioner orders are released.

Case #1: Employment Standards Public Opinion Survey

In 2005, the Alberta government embarked on an ambitious public consultation to find out what changes the public wanted to the Employment Standards Code. This review was long overdue - the Code had not been amended in almost 20 years. The AFL was pleased the government was looking at making changes to the outdated and clunky Code. That good feeling didn't last long, as not a single legislative or regulatory change has occurred to the Employment Standards Code. The consultation died without a single improvement to the Code.

As part of the consultation, the government commissioned a public opnion survey of 400 employers and 400 workers to guage opinions about certain elements of the Code. The poll was conducted in the fall of 2005.

The AFL wondered why the consultation resulted in nothing, and thought the poll might reveal a reason. The AFL submitted a FOIP request to receive a copy of the poll questions and results. The government refused. The AFL appealed to the Commissioner.

After 2 1/2 years of review, including written submissions and legal arguments, the Commissioner issued an Order in June of 2008, requiring the government to release the entire poll, plus some additional documents, to the AFL.

What we found in the poll is interesting, even 3 years later. We thought Albertans might find it interesting as well. Below are the pertinent documents in the case:

The Commissioner's Order

The Public Opinion Survey

The AFL's Analysis of the Survey

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