Suzanne Legault warns MPs against raising access-to-information user fees

Information CommissionerSuzanneLegaultsays she doesn't supportincreasing user fees for access to information requests, a proposalmade by ConservativeMPsat a Commons committee this week.

Canada's Access to Information Act allows members of the public to request government information from various departments. There is currently a $5 fee to make a request.

Legaulttold CBC News that increasing thecost is"not a good idea."

"Access to information rights are really fundamental to democracy," she said. "We have to make sure that it is appropriately resourced. It is not going to be appropriately resourced through an increase in the fee structure, unless you were to be charging such an exorbitantfee that it would be impossible for people to access their rights."

During her testimony to the committee on Thursday,Legaultoutlined the challenges she's facing, including a 30 per cent increase in workload and a shrinking budget.

Information office struggling with demand, finances

Legaultalso said thenumber of complaints being made about withheld or delayed information is on the rise and she needs an increased budget to address this.

"We need more investigators, and it is not my office that is in a crisis, it is the fact that Canadians' right to access government information is in jeopardy, that is the real issue,"Legaultsaid."Because my office is underfunded to such an extent that we can't investigate their complaint in a timely manner, their rights are being thwarted."

During the Commons committee, ToryMPsproposed increasing the $5 application fee attached to requests.

"You can look at cuts or you can grow your pie," said Conservative MP Joan Crockatt.

Legaultdoes not agree with this proposal.

"It is for the government to decide whether they want to tell Canadians they are going to have to pay more to access government information. It really is not up to my office," she said. "The only thing I can say is that as an information commissioner, I don't think this is a good idea for Canadians' access rights."

The commissioner said a bigger fee would not help with the financial problems she faces.Money from accesstoinformation fees currently goes to general revenues, notLegault's office.

Legaultis poised to releaserecommendations next month about how to reform the Access to Information Act, which has not been overhauled since itcame into effect in 1983.