The Government of Canada is renewing its approach to openness and transparency, and wants you to participate.

They have set ambitious goals for an open, transparent, and accountable government. They have committed to making government and its information open by default, and ensuring Canadians have more opportunities to be heard in government decision-making processes. They have also committed to making government information and data easier to access, which includes revitalizing Canada’s Access to Information Act.

Today, the Government of Canada is engaging with citizens, stakeholders, businesses, academics, media, entrepreneurs, and civil society organizations to develop Canada’s Action Plan on Open Government 2016-18.

They welcome your participation online, in-person, and via email or mail, and encourage you to get involved through the link below.

• Please join the conversation and make your voice heard on Canada’s Open Government Action Plan 2016-18
• From May 1 to July 1, you are also invited to provide your views on improving the Access to Information Act

The next action plan will capture Canada’s important commitments to improving openness and transparency. In addition, through consultations, the Government of Canada is seeking input from Parliament, Canadians, and stakeholders on how best to implement our commitments to improve the Access to Information Act. Once these key modernization commitments have been met, they will initiate a review of the Act to explore even more opportunities for improvement. This is anticipated in 2018.

All comments are welcomed.

-The open government team

Most recent blog posts on Canada’s Open Government Portal:

• Open Data Across Canada – A Snapshot
• Library and Archives Canada: Opening Government Records
• Open Government, and the 4th Industrial Revolution
• Teaching Open Data