Editor:
Burnaby residents have a right to know what is going on.
Freedom of information (FOI) laws provide individuals with a right to access unpublished information held by public bodies.
This right is essential for civic groups and individuals to known how to effectively contribute to the well-being of their society.
Burnaby was central in advancing freedom of information laws in B.C. In 1992, an NDP MLA from Burnaby, Barry Jones, helped usher in one of the best FOI laws in Canada.
Now, almost 30 years later, the current BC NDP government is proposing Bill 22, which would substantially weaken a law that has helped countless individuals and organizations better contribute to the well-being of B.C.
A coalition of B.C civic organizations and individuals is calling attention to this betrayal.
The ability for you to access unpublished information held by public bodies, and not what a small group of public officials think you are worthy enough to know, is essential for a robust participatory democracy and healthy society.
Burnaby residents deserve to know what their current MLAs are proposing.
Mark Weiler, Waterloo, Ont.
