The federal information watchdog says she’s surprised that government proposals for updating the Access to Information Act avoid “the most pressing issue” dogging the system — unacceptable delays in answering requests. Our story: tinyurl.com/4cx45rjc #cdnpoli #cdnfoi

The decades-long debate over whether Canada should create a CIA-style foreign spy agency has been coloured by pressure from allies, budgetary restraint and internal federal rivalries, a new study reveals. Our story: tinyurl.com/mryae6xj #cdnpoli

Challenges with recruitment, training, resources and overall management are hindering the RCMP’s reserve program, even as reservists are being called on more than ever, says an internal evaluation report. Our story: tinyurl.com/4pd9sjmd #rcmp #cdnpoli

As Canada's 2026 men's team prepares to go for hockey gold ... I talked to a couple of 90something members of the 1956 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, who battled 70 years ago in Cortina for world hockey supremacy. wp.me/p1hzck-7ie

Openness advocates unimpressed by early proposals for Access to Information reforms. By @jimbronskill.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/27/n... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Pre-clearance operations in Cda are a 'critical component' of border strategy: U.S. Story partly informed by an access-to-info request. By @jimbronskill.bsky.social & Kyle Duggan nationalnewswatch.com/2026/01/11/p... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

What an honour! Thank you Canadian Law Blog Awards! #clawbies2025

Today @freedom.press filed FOIA requests for records on the President’s legal authority to launch a strike on Venezuela. We’re seeking answers, and expedited processing, from DOJ (OLC), DOD, State, FBI, CIA, NSA, and NGA. Wars shouldn't be illegal, and they shouldn't be justified in secret.

On June 30, 2025, the federal gov't announced the removal of 53 barriers to internal trade within Cda, after a review. Speaking of barriers, here are the results of that review report, obtained under access-to-information. canada.ca/en/intergove... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Grey skies over Ottawa - Rideau Canal, November 2

Prime Minister Mark Carney was counselled to push back during an April call with Donald Trump if the U.S. president revived his complaints about border security, fentanyl from Canada or low defence spending, a newly released memo shows. Our story: tinyurl.com/3b9u4zzr #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Terrific digging here by CBC Ottawa's crime reporter Kristy Nease, who fought for parole/probation records under Ont's FOI law. Nease's story reveals a disturbing lack of concern for the women targets of a killer's violence. cbc.ca/news/canada/... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Via @ubcoceans.bsky.social - Canada's scientific study of oceans may be vulnerable to foreign adversaries: report - @jimbronskill.bsky.social The Canadian Press via @cheknews.ca cheknews.ca/canadas-scie...

Liberals say new anti-fraud measures coming with federal budget, @jimbronskill.bsky.social reports nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/20/l...

If you blinked, you missed this Nova Scotia 'transparency' legislation being passed. law-democracy.org/nova-scotia-... #cdnfoi #nsfoi #nspoli

Shifting global picture disrupted Canada's national security strategy update: memo. "The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the heavily redacted March 20 note through the Access to Information Act." By Jim Bronskill nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/12/s... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

CSIS lacked proper policies, procedures to manage secret technology. "Canadian Press obtained a heavily redacted version of the intelligence review agency's top secret report through the Access to Information Act." By Jim Bronskill nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/14/c... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #csis

A century and a half ago, it had only six judges, no permanent home and a less than onerous workload. The Supreme Court of Canada is tracing its storied history, and somewhat humble beginnings, to mark its 150th anniversary this year. Our story: bit.ly/4q14eI4 #cdnpoli #scc

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in Canada Revenue Agency charity audits tied to terrorism. "The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the intelligence watchdog's report through the Access to Information Act." @jimbronskill.bsky.social timescolonist.com/national-new... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #cra

New substack from me: PM Carney's office slammed by access-to-info orders deanbeeby.substack.com/p/carneys-of... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

L’espion traître Kim Philby était bien renseigné sur le Canada, craignait la GRC #radiocanada #grandstitres

The early-1960s revelation that British spy Kim Philby had worked for Moscow alarmed Canadian intelligence officials who feared that he had betrayed confidences gleaned from Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko, once-secret archival records show. Our story: tinyurl.com/3ums4x2r #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Canada's federal voting system is constitutional, Ontario Court of Appeal rules, @jimbronskill.bsky.social reports. nationalnewswatch.com/2025/08/11/c... #nationlnewswatch via @natnewswatch

New from me at @theglobeandmail.com: As anti-sunscreen misinformation spreads online, skin cancer advocates say beware www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Why are so many federal inmates dying shortly before their release date? A "freedom of information request showed the leading cause of death for inmates serving determinate sentences between January 2019 and February 2025 was suicide." By Lauren Battagello www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Government blocked streaming sites for public servants as a 'people management issue': access-to-info documents. By By Kate McKenna cbc.ca/news/politic... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Workplace assessment of RCMP watchdog found 'clear call for change': access-to-info documents. By Jim Bronskill nationalnewswatch.com/2025/07/20/w... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

Historian Tim Sayle on the absurd access-to-info redactions applied to 75-year-old records. substack.com/home/post/p-... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

New substack from me: Spy agency workers say open-office environment makes them lose focus. deanbeeby.substack.com/p/spy-agency... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #CSE

A newly launched federal review of the Access to Information system is being greeted with deep skepticism by transparency advocates. Our story: tinyurl.com/2ukbm7y8 #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

In #Ottawa it’s so hot that …

Saskatchewan's government is planning to extend the life of the province's coal plants before moving to nuclear power generation, says a letter from the Crown Investments Corporation Minister. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/... #skpoli

While the federal government has made gains on diversity and equity in the public service, inequities persist when it comes to pay, a new Treasury Board report says. toronto.citynews.ca/2025/06/18/p...

Ottawa is under pressure to pause digital services tax legislation that directs large tech companies to make a big retroactive payment by June 30 www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Info commissioner's annual report to Parliament, released this week, warns that planned workforce reductions could damage access-to-info rights. This has been happening in the U.S. because of the DOGE cuts. #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Please take some time to read the story of the Air India bombing victims' families. Still in anguish and feeling forgotten 40 years after Canada's worst terrorism attack. vancouversun.com/feature/air-...

Rule of law, judges ‘under attack’ in many countries, Supreme Court Canada chief justice Richard Wagner says. @jimbronskill.bsky.social #scc #cdnpoli #justice toronto.citynews.ca/2025/06/10/r...

Historians denied ready access to Canada's archival records at Library and Archives Canada. "The problem is ... Canada’s access to information (ATIP) legislation, which came into effect in 1983" By Charlotte Gray theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Transparency advocates say a coming federal review of the Access to Information Act should be overseen by an independent panel — not the government — to avoid the pitfalls of the last such exercise. Our story: tinyurl.com/ybxnxwey #cdnpoli #cdnfoi

"Some of our members can no longer afford to live in the communities where they work and report." @cdnpress.bsky.social @lapresse.ca @thestar.com @theglobeandmail.com @laftq.bsky.social #cdnpoli #canlab #polqc #canmedia

Journalism matters bsky.app/profile/cmgl...

Public transit, cycling and walking will be the "primary and preferred modes" of getting fans to and from the Ottawa Senators' planned downtown arena, says a newly disclosed agreement on the project. Our story: tinyurl.com/2p8yfvdv #cdnpoli #sens #cdnfoi

Ottawa expects to spend about $7 million this year to store and maintain four custom-made, portable hospitals that cost taxpayers more than $200 million to buy — facilities that were barely used during the COVID-19 pandemic @kduggan.bsky.social reports tinyurl.com/3fru6kbk #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada's social fabric, access-to-info document shows. By @jimbronskill.bsky.social nationalnewswatch.com/2025/05/07/o... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Happy Independent Booksellers Day! There are a lot of fun events happening across the country today—Go buy some books and meet some authors! Photo of my mom and dad (at Hurtig Books in Edmonton, circa 1957).

New from me: Welcome to the new post-transparency open.substack.com/pub/deanbeeb... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Liberal Leader Mark Carney is promising a review of Canada's Access to Information system if his party wins the federal election, suggesting he sees room for improvement in how the law works. Our story: tinyurl.com/pc547asm #cdnfoi #elxn45