Terms of Reference - Assistant Deputy Ministers Advisory Committee

Background

The Government of Canada has established the Access to Information Review Task Force to conduct a broad review of access to government information. The one-year review will look at key components of access to information at the federal level in order to make recommendations for improvement. A final report will be released in the fall of 2001, which will analyse the administrative and legislative aspects of Access to Information and provide recommendations for improvement.

Madame Delagrave, Chair of the Access to Information Review Task Force, will chair the Assistant Deputy Minister Advisory Committee.

Role of the Assistant Deputy Ministers Advisory Committee

The Task Force will consult with the ADM Advisory Committee on various aspects of the Access to Information framework, including the Access to Information Act, regulations, and relevant policies and guidelines. The Task Force will also consult on departmental procedures and certain aspects of federal government information management and dissemination to identify ways of ensuring that the Act and administrative processes are as effective as possible.

The 17-member committee will provide advice and suggestions on how to improve the access to information framework. It will also act as a sounding board for ideas and proposals.

The ADM Advisory Committee will also be consulted on how to promote openness in keeping with the philosophy of the Act. The committee will be well positioned to play a leadership role and be champions for greater transparency and openness by government institutions.

Summaries of meetings will be posted on the Access to Information Review Task Force web site.

Operation of the Committee

The Chair will convene meetings. It is expected that the meetings will be half-day sessions, and be held on average every 4 to 6 weeks. A smaller group of Assistant Deputy Ministers with responsibilities for Access to Information may meet more frequently to discuss co-ordination issues.

The Chair of the Task Force retains responsibility and accountability for the reports and the recommendations of the Task Force.

Advisory Committees