Terms of Reference - Access to Information Review External 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 review will look at the administrative and legislative aspects of access to information and provide recommendations for improvement. A final report will be released in the fall of 2001. The Task Force may issue interim reports.

Role of the Advisory Committee

The role of the Advisory Committee is to provide sage advice and suggestions to the Chair of the Task Force and act as a sounding board for ideas and proposals. The members of the Advisory Committee will provide advice on the full spectrum of access to government information issues and not represent specific interests.

Composition

The Advisory Committee is made up of people who are external to the federal government and who have a mix of knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the review of access to information. The Chair of the Task Force will serve as the chair of this Committee and a professional facilitator will be used to assist at meetings.

Responsibilities

Members will be expected to attend four meetings between May and end of June 2001.

The Advisory Committee will help define the problematique, consider various options and provide overall advice on ways to address issues raised during the course of the review. The Committee will not be asked to review drafts of the Task Force report nor approve recommendations.

There is no expectation that there will be a consensus by all members of the Committee on all of the items raised, although every effort will be made to achieve consensus.

Summaries from these meetings will be made public.

Other

The Task Force will provide secretariat support to the Committee.

Travel expenses in accordance with Treasury Board guidelines and a $500 honorarium per meeting will be borne by the Task Force.

Advisory Committees