Ken Rubin

Ken Rubin is an Ottawa-based investigative researcher and is reachable at kenrubin.ca.

Canada’s sordid approach to transparency needs to change

Data on everyday contracting is too often hidden, and only minimally posted on the open government portal or sufficiently posted in official public accounts.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 22, 2024

Canada’s sordid approach to transparency needs to change

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 22, 2024

Data on everyday contracting is too often hidden, and only minimally posted on the open government portal or sufficiently posted in official public accounts.

Canada’s sordid approach to transparency needs to change

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 22, 2024

Data on everyday contracting is too often hidden, and only minimally posted on the open government portal or sufficiently posted in official public accounts.

Poilievre’s transparency promises fall short

Pierre Poilievre says he wants the federal information commissioner to take on Ottawa’s 'gatekeepers.' But he's not offering to cut back on ATIP exemptions

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 19, 2024

Poilievre’s transparency promises fall short

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 19, 2024

Pierre Poilievre says he wants the federal information commissioner to take on Ottawa’s 'gatekeepers.' But he's not offering to cut back on ATIP exemptions

Poilievre’s transparency promises fall short

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 19, 2024

Pierre Poilievre says he wants the federal information commissioner to take on Ottawa’s 'gatekeepers.' But he's not offering to cut back on ATIP exemptions

What 25 years of writing on Access to Information looks like

Sometimes, strong words are needed to express the lack of accountable government in Ottawa. Ken Rubin reflects on 25 years of doing that in

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 18, 2024

What 25 years of writing on Access to Information looks like

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 18, 2024

Sometimes, strong words are needed to express the lack of accountable government in Ottawa. Ken Rubin reflects on 25 years of doing that in

What 25 years of writing on Access to Information looks like

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 18, 2024

Sometimes, strong words are needed to express the lack of accountable government in Ottawa. Ken Rubin reflects on 25 years of doing that in

Bill C-27 lacking transparency for private-sector, AI privacy intrusions

The legislative scheme appears to be more about legally permitting continued and expanded AI use with little interest in privacy protection for individuals, and

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 27, 2023

Bill C-27 lacking transparency for private-sector, AI privacy intrusions

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 27, 2023

The legislative scheme appears to be more about legally permitting continued and expanded AI use with little interest in privacy protection for individuals, and

Bill C-27 lacking transparency for private-sector, AI privacy intrusions

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 27, 2023

The legislative scheme appears to be more about legally permitting continued and expanded AI use with little interest in privacy protection for individuals, and

Murky access-to-information responses aren’t fit for a king

Probing for records on the processes used for some high-ranking official endeavours can yield bits of data that, in turn, raise more questions.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 9, 2023

Murky access-to-information responses aren’t fit for a king

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 9, 2023

Probing for records on the processes used for some high-ranking official endeavours can yield bits of data that, in turn, raise more questions.

Murky access-to-information responses aren’t fit for a king

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 9, 2023

Probing for records on the processes used for some high-ranking official endeavours can yield bits of data that, in turn, raise more questions.

Barriers to overhauling Ottawa’s service delivery and secrecy culture

Ottawa's rigid management style is stymying service delivery and disclosures, and is increasingly out of touch and out of control.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 25, 2023

Barriers to overhauling Ottawa’s service delivery and secrecy culture

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 25, 2023

Ottawa's rigid management style is stymying service delivery and disclosures, and is increasingly out of touch and out of control.

Barriers to overhauling Ottawa’s service delivery and secrecy culture

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 25, 2023

Ottawa's rigid management style is stymying service delivery and disclosures, and is increasingly out of touch and out of control.

The public pays for self-serving and promotional government activity behind closed doors

Once ferreted out, and very late, government access-to-information releases are rarely not self-serving. Many a bureaucrat can tell you dozens of stories about such plans,

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 20, 2023

The public pays for self-serving and promotional government activity behind closed doors

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 20, 2023

Once ferreted out, and very late, government access-to-information releases are rarely not self-serving. Many a bureaucrat can tell you dozens of stories about such plans,

The public pays for self-serving and promotional government activity behind closed doors

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 20, 2023

Once ferreted out, and very late, government access-to-information releases are rarely not self-serving. Many a bureaucrat can tell you dozens of stories about such plans,

The government is scuttling your right to know

From the top down, neither the prime minister nor his government have the will to change secrecy practices and open up Ottawa.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 26, 2023

The government is scuttling your right to know

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 26, 2023

From the top down, neither the prime minister nor his government have the will to change secrecy practices and open up Ottawa.

The government is scuttling your right to know

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 26, 2023

From the top down, neither the prime minister nor his government have the will to change secrecy practices and open up Ottawa.

House committee report mixes politics and partial fixes to Canada’s out-of-touch Access to Information Act

At least the recommendations go further in capturing some of what is needed to reform an access act that suffers tremendously from delays, exemptions,

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 28, 2023

House committee report mixes politics and partial fixes to Canada’s out-of-touch Access to Information Act

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 28, 2023

At least the recommendations go further in capturing some of what is needed to reform an access act that suffers tremendously from delays, exemptions,

House committee report mixes politics and partial fixes to Canada’s out-of-touch Access to Information Act

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 28, 2023

At least the recommendations go further in capturing some of what is needed to reform an access act that suffers tremendously from delays, exemptions,

David Johnston, super vetting government information consultant, bows out

Nobody ever said freeing-up Ottawa with so many government insiders afraid of public disclosures or having independent inquiries would be easy.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 15, 2023

David Johnston, super vetting government information consultant, bows out

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 15, 2023

Nobody ever said freeing-up Ottawa with so many government insiders afraid of public disclosures or having independent inquiries would be easy.

David Johnston, super vetting government information consultant, bows out

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 15, 2023

Nobody ever said freeing-up Ottawa with so many government insiders afraid of public disclosures or having independent inquiries would be easy.

Three ways federal transparency is threatened

Hiding artificial intelligence use, automatically incorporating regulations by reference, and using non-disclosure agreements all allow a creep towards government opacity.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 14, 2023

Three ways federal transparency is threatened

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 14, 2023

Hiding artificial intelligence use, automatically incorporating regulations by reference, and using non-disclosure agreements all allow a creep towards government opacity.

Three ways federal transparency is threatened

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 14, 2023

Hiding artificial intelligence use, automatically incorporating regulations by reference, and using non-disclosure agreements all allow a creep towards government opacity.

Signs of change: Parks Canada examines how we can address our past and future

The agency is grappling with twin challenges of how we contend with Canada's history, and how we will respond to the effects of climate

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 22, 2023

Signs of change: Parks Canada examines how we can address our past and future

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 22, 2023

The agency is grappling with twin challenges of how we contend with Canada's history, and how we will respond to the effects of climate

Signs of change: Parks Canada examines how we can address our past and future

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 22, 2023

The agency is grappling with twin challenges of how we contend with Canada's history, and how we will respond to the effects of climate

Deceit, spin, politics, and a costly plan replace calls for greater transparency

The House Access Committee hopes to have a report out in late May or early June. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier's appearance indicated a

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 1, 2023

Deceit, spin, politics, and a costly plan replace calls for greater transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 1, 2023

The House Access Committee hopes to have a report out in late May or early June. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier's appearance indicated a

Deceit, spin, politics, and a costly plan replace calls for greater transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 1, 2023

The House Access Committee hopes to have a report out in late May or early June. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier's appearance indicated a

Trudeau, Huppé reinforce secrecy barriers

Meanwhile, the public remains deserted after 40 years of excessive secrecy under Canada's Access to Information Act and no one is really listening or

Trudeau, Huppé reinforce secrecy barriers

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 22, 2023

Meanwhile, the public remains deserted after 40 years of excessive secrecy under Canada's Access to Information Act and no one is really listening or

Trudeau, Huppé reinforce secrecy barriers

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 22, 2023

Meanwhile, the public remains deserted after 40 years of excessive secrecy under Canada's Access to Information Act and no one is really listening or

Secretive bureaucrats tight-lipped on two prime ministerial promises

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still hasn't established a Canadian Centre of Peace, Order and Good Government, and he still hasn't banned the export of

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 8, 2023

Secretive bureaucrats tight-lipped on two prime ministerial promises

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 8, 2023

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still hasn't established a Canadian Centre of Peace, Order and Good Government, and he still hasn't banned the export of

Secretive bureaucrats tight-lipped on two prime ministerial promises

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 8, 2023

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still hasn't established a Canadian Centre of Peace, Order and Good Government, and he still hasn't banned the export of

Canadians’ privacy could take a serious hit this coming legislative session

OTTAWA—Government actions coming our way this year will dramatically affect Canadians’ personal data if left as is. One action, partly hidden and under-reported, involves

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 16, 2023

Canadians’ privacy could take a serious hit this coming legislative session

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 16, 2023

OTTAWA—Government actions coming our way this year will dramatically affect Canadians’ personal data if left as is. One action, partly hidden and under-reported, involves

Canadians’ privacy could take a serious hit this coming legislative session

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | January 16, 2023

OTTAWA—Government actions coming our way this year will dramatically affect Canadians’ personal data if left as is. One action, partly hidden and under-reported, involves

Treasury Board’s overdue review of Access Act is big on propaganda, light on recommendations

Treasury Board is not capable of being the engine and manager of any access-to-information regime, writes Ken Rubin.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 26, 2022

Treasury Board’s overdue review of Access Act is big on propaganda, light on recommendations

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 26, 2022

Treasury Board is not capable of being the engine and manager of any access-to-information regime, writes Ken Rubin.

Treasury Board’s overdue review of Access Act is big on propaganda, light on recommendations

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 26, 2022

Treasury Board is not capable of being the engine and manager of any access-to-information regime, writes Ken Rubin.

Ottawa’s transit woes take a licking in LRT inquiry report

Two derailments to date, one large sinkhole delay, poorly designed tracks, and consistently unreliable service: all are hung up in the scathing LRT report.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 7, 2022

Ottawa’s transit woes take a licking in LRT inquiry report

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 7, 2022

Two derailments to date, one large sinkhole delay, poorly designed tracks, and consistently unreliable service: all are hung up in the scathing LRT report.

Ottawa’s transit woes take a licking in LRT inquiry report

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 7, 2022

Two derailments to date, one large sinkhole delay, poorly designed tracks, and consistently unreliable service: all are hung up in the scathing LRT report.

Exposing Library and Archives Canada’s dismal transparency record

OTTAWA—When I first came to Ottawa in the mid-1960s, I started going to the National Archives to access government records. I met Archives personnel

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 27, 2022

Exposing Library and Archives Canada’s dismal transparency record

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 27, 2022

OTTAWA—When I first came to Ottawa in the mid-1960s, I started going to the National Archives to access government records. I met Archives personnel

Exposing Library and Archives Canada’s dismal transparency record

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | October 27, 2022

OTTAWA—When I first came to Ottawa in the mid-1960s, I started going to the National Archives to access government records. I met Archives personnel

Finger-pointing Poilievre is still with us

OTTAWA—Once Pierre Poilievre accusingly pointed the finger in my direction, just like he has for others. The circumstances were as follows: he sat on

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 22, 2022

Finger-pointing Poilievre is still with us

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 22, 2022

OTTAWA—Once Pierre Poilievre accusingly pointed the finger in my direction, just like he has for others. The circumstances were as follows: he sat on

Finger-pointing Poilievre is still with us

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 22, 2022

OTTAWA—Once Pierre Poilievre accusingly pointed the finger in my direction, just like he has for others. The circumstances were as follows: he sat on

Is belated federal intervention helpful to resolving the capital community’s traumatization by Freedom Trucker Convoy protesters?

OTTAWA—Does it take special federal legislation to overcome hatred and official inaction to stop “Freedom” Convoy intrusions? Ottawa belatedly thought so when it invoked

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2022

Is belated federal intervention helpful to resolving the capital community’s traumatization by Freedom Trucker Convoy protesters?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2022

OTTAWA—Does it take special federal legislation to overcome hatred and official inaction to stop “Freedom” Convoy intrusions? Ottawa belatedly thought so when it invoked

Is belated federal intervention helpful to resolving the capital community’s traumatization by Freedom Trucker Convoy protesters?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2022

OTTAWA—Does it take special federal legislation to overcome hatred and official inaction to stop “Freedom” Convoy intrusions? Ottawa belatedly thought so when it invoked

Does the federal government fund and support racially discriminating groups and individuals?

OTTAWA—Federal funding of hateful messaging has been in the news lately after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the comments of a senior consultant who

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2022

Does the federal government fund and support racially discriminating groups and individuals?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2022

OTTAWA—Federal funding of hateful messaging has been in the news lately after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the comments of a senior consultant who

Does the federal government fund and support racially discriminating groups and individuals?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2022

OTTAWA—Federal funding of hateful messaging has been in the news lately after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the comments of a senior consultant who

Consumer interest is being overlooked and manipulated

OTTAWA—Canadians lack basic consumer protection at a time when the economy is not favouring the consumer. This was illustrated on July 8 when Rogers

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 25, 2022

Consumer interest is being overlooked and manipulated

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 25, 2022

OTTAWA—Canadians lack basic consumer protection at a time when the economy is not favouring the consumer. This was illustrated on July 8 when Rogers

Consumer interest is being overlooked and manipulated

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 25, 2022

OTTAWA—Canadians lack basic consumer protection at a time when the economy is not favouring the consumer. This was illustrated on July 8 when Rogers

While the Charter lets us dream, the Access to Information Act is a nightmare

OTTAWA—Two pieces of once-promising Canadian legislation have turned out very differently 40 years on. One is Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enacted on

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 9, 2022

Queen Elizabeth and prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, pictured April 17, 1982, signing the Constitution. It's time to put the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Access to Information Act on the same page so that Canadians' rights to know can no longer be ignored, trampled on or based on the state controlling what Canadians get or not get disclosed, writes Ken Rubin. *Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Robert Cooper*

While the Charter lets us dream, the Access to Information Act is a nightmare

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 9, 2022

OTTAWA—Two pieces of once-promising Canadian legislation have turned out very differently 40 years on. One is Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enacted on

While the Charter lets us dream, the Access to Information Act is a nightmare

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 9, 2022

OTTAWA—Two pieces of once-promising Canadian legislation have turned out very differently 40 years on. One is Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enacted on

Industry lobbying under guise of pandemic stimuli pressing own interests behind closed doors

The pandemic emergency has been used by business interests to gain access to government officials to present corporate demands while claiming that they want

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 17, 2022

Industry lobbying under guise of pandemic stimuli pressing own interests behind closed doors

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 17, 2022

The pandemic emergency has been used by business interests to gain access to government officials to present corporate demands while claiming that they want

Industry lobbying under guise of pandemic stimuli pressing own interests behind closed doors

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | May 17, 2022

The pandemic emergency has been used by business interests to gain access to government officials to present corporate demands while claiming that they want

Liberals still stalling on transparency in government

OTTAWA—If you thought the NDP would hold the federal Liberals’ feet to the fire for the public to gain vastly increased transparency practices in

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 18, 2022

Liberals still stalling on transparency in government

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 18, 2022

OTTAWA—If you thought the NDP would hold the federal Liberals’ feet to the fire for the public to gain vastly increased transparency practices in

Liberals still stalling on transparency in government

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 18, 2022

OTTAWA—If you thought the NDP would hold the federal Liberals’ feet to the fire for the public to gain vastly increased transparency practices in

Why is Patrick Brown running for the federal Conservative leadership and how does he fit with Jean Charest?

OTTAWA—On the surface, it makes little sense why a former short-time Ontario provincial leader and now Brampton mayor—known for running the show there—is coming

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 28, 2022

Former Quebec premier Jean Charest and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown have reportedly formed a pact in the federal leadership race, according to The Toronto Star, that could make one of them the next leader of the Conservative party. On the surface, it makes little sense why a former short-time Ontario provincial leader and now Brampton mayor, known for running the show there, is coming forward to throw his hat into the race. But Brown has politics in his blood and greater ambitions, writes Ken Rubin. *The Hill Times file photographs*

Why is Patrick Brown running for the federal Conservative leadership and how does he fit with Jean Charest?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 28, 2022

OTTAWA—On the surface, it makes little sense why a former short-time Ontario provincial leader and now Brampton mayor—known for running the show there—is coming

Why is Patrick Brown running for the federal Conservative leadership and how does he fit with Jean Charest?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 28, 2022

OTTAWA—On the surface, it makes little sense why a former short-time Ontario provincial leader and now Brampton mayor—known for running the show there—is coming

A leader with baggage steps back into the spotlight

The entrance of Jean Charest, ex-politician extraordinaire, to the federal Conservative leadership race requires a closer examination of his work since 2013 as an

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 11, 2022

A leader with baggage steps back into the spotlight

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 11, 2022

The entrance of Jean Charest, ex-politician extraordinaire, to the federal Conservative leadership race requires a closer examination of his work since 2013 as an

A leader with baggage steps back into the spotlight

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 11, 2022

The entrance of Jean Charest, ex-politician extraordinaire, to the federal Conservative leadership race requires a closer examination of his work since 2013 as an

Federal, city inquiries into occupations and blockades too limited

With the end of the emergency declarations and the Emergencies Act’s use, authorities are starting to examine what went wrong and the causes that

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 2, 2022

Federal, city inquiries into occupations and blockades too limited

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 2, 2022

With the end of the emergency declarations and the Emergencies Act’s use, authorities are starting to examine what went wrong and the causes that

Federal, city inquiries into occupations and blockades too limited

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 2, 2022

With the end of the emergency declarations and the Emergencies Act’s use, authorities are starting to examine what went wrong and the causes that

Judicial inquiry needed into Ottawa siege and countrywide blockades

Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act, Canadians have to decide if a joint parliamentary committee and vaguely-defined inquiry is

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 24, 2022

Judicial inquiry needed into Ottawa siege and countrywide blockades

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 24, 2022

Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act, Canadians have to decide if a joint parliamentary committee and vaguely-defined inquiry is

Judicial inquiry needed into Ottawa siege and countrywide blockades

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 24, 2022

Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act, Canadians have to decide if a joint parliamentary committee and vaguely-defined inquiry is

Watson’s actions during siege crisis in Ottawa raises questions

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s heavy-handed style was on full display in the coup against the Ottawa Police Services Board on Feb. 16, which saw

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 18, 2022

Watson’s actions during siege crisis in Ottawa raises questions

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 18, 2022

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s heavy-handed style was on full display in the coup against the Ottawa Police Services Board on Feb. 16, which saw

Watson’s actions during siege crisis in Ottawa raises questions

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 18, 2022

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s heavy-handed style was on full display in the coup against the Ottawa Police Services Board on Feb. 16, which saw

Treasury Board should get out of the business of faking disclosures

OTTAWA—The Treasury Board thinks and acts like a privileged cabinet committee yet continues to handle federal disclosure policies with a bureaucratic and regressive fist.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 14, 2022

Treasury Board should get out of the business of faking disclosures

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 14, 2022

OTTAWA—The Treasury Board thinks and acts like a privileged cabinet committee yet continues to handle federal disclosure policies with a bureaucratic and regressive fist.

Treasury Board should get out of the business of faking disclosures

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 14, 2022

OTTAWA—The Treasury Board thinks and acts like a privileged cabinet committee yet continues to handle federal disclosure policies with a bureaucratic and regressive fist.

2022: the year of information deals and vulnerabilities

OTTAWA—Will 2022 be the year of information deals? More information breaches? And will access to information be noticeably changed for better or worse? First

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 20, 2021

2022: the year of information deals and vulnerabilities

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 20, 2021

OTTAWA—Will 2022 be the year of information deals? More information breaches? And will access to information be noticeably changed for better or worse? First

2022: the year of information deals and vulnerabilities

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 20, 2021

OTTAWA—Will 2022 be the year of information deals? More information breaches? And will access to information be noticeably changed for better or worse? First

Transparency remains low on Trudeau and other governments’ priorities

OTTAWA—Access to information at the beginning of Trudeau’s third-term government still remains a hit-and-miss-patchwork system of delays, denials, and partial disclosures. Since late 2019,

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 8, 2021

Transparency remains low on Trudeau and other governments’ priorities

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 8, 2021

OTTAWA—Access to information at the beginning of Trudeau’s third-term government still remains a hit-and-miss-patchwork system of delays, denials, and partial disclosures. Since late 2019,

Transparency remains low on Trudeau and other governments’ priorities

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 8, 2021

OTTAWA—Access to information at the beginning of Trudeau’s third-term government still remains a hit-and-miss-patchwork system of delays, denials, and partial disclosures. Since late 2019,

Opposition to combating centralized secretive prime ministerial decision-making is weak

OTTAWA—Those who long for changing the excessive centralization of power and control in the hands of the prime minister and the PMO are few

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2021

Opposition to combating centralized secretive prime ministerial decision-making is weak

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2021

OTTAWA—Those who long for changing the excessive centralization of power and control in the hands of the prime minister and the PMO are few

Opposition to combating centralized secretive prime ministerial decision-making is weak

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 8, 2021

OTTAWA—Those who long for changing the excessive centralization of power and control in the hands of the prime minister and the PMO are few

Government contempt for transparency undermines reconciliation

Public sentiment dictates action after the discovery of residential school children’s grave sites. It’s not, however, going to be easy to try and compensate

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | August 23, 2021

Government contempt for transparency undermines reconciliation

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | August 23, 2021

Public sentiment dictates action after the discovery of residential school children’s grave sites. It’s not, however, going to be easy to try and compensate

Government contempt for transparency undermines reconciliation

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | August 23, 2021

Public sentiment dictates action after the discovery of residential school children’s grave sites. It’s not, however, going to be easy to try and compensate

Treasury Board’s pretend review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is also a waste of money

OTTAWA—Treasury Board’s statutory review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is late, has had very little public uptake, and is going to cost taxpayers

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 29, 2021

Treasury Board’s pretend review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is also a waste of money

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 29, 2021

OTTAWA—Treasury Board’s statutory review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is late, has had very little public uptake, and is going to cost taxpayers

Treasury Board’s pretend review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is also a waste of money

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | July 29, 2021

OTTAWA—Treasury Board’s statutory review of Canada’s Access to Information Act is late, has had very little public uptake, and is going to cost taxpayers

Documented: 215 reasons we need full disclosure

OTTAWA—Too often we think of our past records as simply what’s officially documented and written on paper. Far too much of that, however, is

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 3, 2021

A new classroom building of the Kamloops Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., pictured in 1950. The Canadian government and the governments can fly all its flags at half mast at all its federal buildings for a memorial for the Indigenous children who died, but what's really needed is full transparency and accountability to stay on board with the public's needs or to help those whose stories and past horrors need addressing, writes Ken Rubin. *Photograph courtesy of Flickr*

Documented: 215 reasons we need full disclosure

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 3, 2021

OTTAWA—Too often we think of our past records as simply what’s officially documented and written on paper. Far too much of that, however, is

Documented: 215 reasons we need full disclosure

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | June 3, 2021

OTTAWA—Too often we think of our past records as simply what’s officially documented and written on paper. Far too much of that, however, is

A little-known Trans-Canada digital identity regime in the works, in whose interest?

OTTAWA—Are Canadians being gamed by certain government and corporate interests into believing a brighter post-pandemic future is coming if we all have digital IDs?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 29, 2021

A little-known Trans-Canada digital identity regime in the works, in whose interest?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 29, 2021

OTTAWA—Are Canadians being gamed by certain government and corporate interests into believing a brighter post-pandemic future is coming if we all have digital IDs?

A little-known Trans-Canada digital identity regime in the works, in whose interest?

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 29, 2021

OTTAWA—Are Canadians being gamed by certain government and corporate interests into believing a brighter post-pandemic future is coming if we all have digital IDs?

Secrecy surrounds fees paid to Irving for Canada’s 15 multi-billion-dollar warships

The Trudeau government is refusing to say how many millions Irving Shipbuilding Industries has been paid as the sole prime contractor for the Canadian

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 19, 2021

Secrecy surrounds fees paid to Irving for Canada’s 15 multi-billion-dollar warships

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 19, 2021

The Trudeau government is refusing to say how many millions Irving Shipbuilding Industries has been paid as the sole prime contractor for the Canadian

Secrecy surrounds fees paid to Irving for Canada’s 15 multi-billion-dollar warships

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | April 19, 2021

The Trudeau government is refusing to say how many millions Irving Shipbuilding Industries has been paid as the sole prime contractor for the Canadian

Officially designed hoarding boards to take centre stage while splitting Parliament’s great front lawn in two

OTTAWA—If you thought surrounding a construction site with hoarding boards was straightforward, think again. Think of Parliament Hill, Centre Block’s redevelopment construction site, and

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 22, 2021

Officially designed hoarding boards to take centre stage while splitting Parliament’s great front lawn in two

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 22, 2021

OTTAWA—If you thought surrounding a construction site with hoarding boards was straightforward, think again. Think of Parliament Hill, Centre Block’s redevelopment construction site, and

Officially designed hoarding boards to take centre stage while splitting Parliament’s great front lawn in two

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 22, 2021

OTTAWA—If you thought surrounding a construction site with hoarding boards was straightforward, think again. Think of Parliament Hill, Centre Block’s redevelopment construction site, and

Go elsewhere for Canadian information

It is unacceptable when Canadians cannot find basic pandemic data and have to start going to other countries for it. Such is the case

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 17, 2021

Go elsewhere for Canadian information

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 17, 2021

It is unacceptable when Canadians cannot find basic pandemic data and have to start going to other countries for it. Such is the case

Go elsewhere for Canadian information

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | March 17, 2021

It is unacceptable when Canadians cannot find basic pandemic data and have to start going to other countries for it. Such is the case

Artificial intelligence another avenue for government to thwart transparency

OTTAWA—Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in use at federal agencies are rarely publicly known or sufficiently scrutinized. Yet the algorithms in play to either assist

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 17, 2021

Artificial intelligence another avenue for government to thwart transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 17, 2021

OTTAWA—Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in use at federal agencies are rarely publicly known or sufficiently scrutinized. Yet the algorithms in play to either assist

Artificial intelligence another avenue for government to thwart transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 17, 2021

OTTAWA—Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in use at federal agencies are rarely publicly known or sufficiently scrutinized. Yet the algorithms in play to either assist

Payette goes, but secrecy remains

OTTAWA—If only a non-partisan arm’s-length vetting committee had been around, Canadians would have had a better governor general than Julie Payette, so they say.

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 1, 2021

Payette goes, but secrecy remains

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 1, 2021

OTTAWA—If only a non-partisan arm’s-length vetting committee had been around, Canadians would have had a better governor general than Julie Payette, so they say.

Payette goes, but secrecy remains

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | February 1, 2021

OTTAWA—If only a non-partisan arm’s-length vetting committee had been around, Canadians would have had a better governor general than Julie Payette, so they say.

COVID-19 document disclosure promise not kept

Millions of pages of federal pandemic records the Trudeau government was ordered to hand over by the end of November or by the latest,

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 16, 2020

COVID-19 document disclosure promise not kept

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 16, 2020

Millions of pages of federal pandemic records the Trudeau government was ordered to hand over by the end of November or by the latest,

COVID-19 document disclosure promise not kept

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | December 16, 2020

Millions of pages of federal pandemic records the Trudeau government was ordered to hand over by the end of November or by the latest,

Honey, the pandemic shrunk transparency

OTTAWA—In these pandemic months, no one, not the public, or Parliament, is getting greater transparency. Existing committees, like the House of Commons Health Committee,

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 5, 2020

Honey, the pandemic shrunk transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 5, 2020

OTTAWA—In these pandemic months, no one, not the public, or Parliament, is getting greater transparency. Existing committees, like the House of Commons Health Committee,

Honey, the pandemic shrunk transparency

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | November 5, 2020

OTTAWA—In these pandemic months, no one, not the public, or Parliament, is getting greater transparency. Existing committees, like the House of Commons Health Committee,

We may never get the full story on WE

OTTAWA—Ottawa hung around in August for some 5,000 pages of information on the controversial WE Charity potential student grant program. The released records produced

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2020

We may never get the full story on WE

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2020

OTTAWA—Ottawa hung around in August for some 5,000 pages of information on the controversial WE Charity potential student grant program. The released records produced

We may never get the full story on WE

Opinion | BY KEN RUBIN | September 14, 2020

OTTAWA—Ottawa hung around in August for some 5,000 pages of information on the controversial WE Charity potential student grant program. The released records produced