Canadian Government Information Control: Secrecy, Publicity, and Message Control

Event Description

The speaker aims to describe the history and implications of Canadian government information control law. Government information control laws determine the secrecy and public accessibility of government information and decision-making, but also (a bit less obviously) the government’s ability to mislead the public. The focus is on laws controlling access to government-held information and bureaucratic advice focusing on their impact in environmental protection contexts. 

Drew Yewchuk is a Ph.D. student with research interests in government information control law, executive branch decision-making, and environmental protection law. Drew was a public interest environmental lawyer in Alberta before his graduate studies. 

Light lunch (pizzas) will be served. 

Canadian Government Information Control: Secrecy, Publicity, and Message Control - Abstract (PDF)

Speaker

Drew Yewchuk was formerly a staff lawyer with the University of Calgary's Public Interest Law Clinic from 2018-2022. His work focuses on access to information law, administrative secrecy, species at risk, resource law, and environmental liabilities. His prior writing can be found on the University of Calgary law blog.