There have been some fantastic responses to our recent BC action update. We invited our supporters to send their own recommendations to the committee reviewing freedom of information laws in BC and cc us. One day later, we have already received some great letters that will reinforce what B.C. Director Maureen Bader also submitted. We are posting some highlights below as we promised in our update. Should any of you not want your comments re-posted, advise us and we will take them down.
CTF B.C. Director Maureen Bader
recently made a couple of recommendations to your committee.
Namely:
With these I would like to add my support.
David Disney
New Westminster, BC
We all know how corrupt this government has become.This action just proves once again that we are in a dictatorship.We have the right to know where our tax dollars are going,no matter if it`s a 3P project or anything funded by the government.This includes B.C Ferries.Sadly the government has forgotten that WE are the government,the taxpayer.
John Shaddick
I understand that the law regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) is to be updated soon and so I wish to let you know how important we taxpayers consider openness between our government and ourselves to be.
I have lived in B.C. since 1969. I have watched the present government sell off all of our Crown corporations or at least that part which allows someone else to control the direction, responsibilities and accountability to us the taxpayers of British Columbia. I now feel like a citizen in a third world country, one which is dictated to by an uncaring and arrogant Premier. Money in the form of tax dollars are paid for services and programs delivery. The spending of these tax dollars should be a matter of public record. When tax dollars are spent with no accountability to the taxpayers, I wonder what is being done that should not see the light of day.
I agree with The Canadian Taxpayers Federation which supports strengthening freedom of information laws which are fundamental to government transparency and accountability, and with the CTF B.C. Director Maureen Bader's Submission to you. In particular, all information in the public interest should be routinely disclosed, and any organization receiving tax dollars be subject to the Information Act with regard to how those dollars are spent.
Norrie Froman, retired Legal Assistant
Victoria, B.C.
TIRED OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY BEING PILFERED-ALL INFORMATION IN THE
PUBLIC INTEREST SHOULD BE ROUTINELY DISCLOSED AND ANY
ORGANIZATION RECEIVEING TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE
INFORMATION ACT WITH REGARD TO HOW THOSE TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT.
Why has it taken 12 long years for this election promise to be fulfilled?
Of course there can never be to much transparency in government. Any and all organizations that receive even one $ of taxpayer money either directly or indirectly through tax reductions for charitable donations should also be entirely open to public scrutiny. The best disinfectant for corruption and waste is sunshine.
Sincerely, Jonathan Young
It is way past the time where any taxpayer is
allowed to question where our tax dollars are being used. Salaries and
expenses and bonuses are an issue with me, as well as gross overspending.
People who get the benefit of being paid by the taxpayers need to be able to
justify any and all expenses. The Freedom of Information Act needs
to encompass this.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey