Secret Canada nominated for a National Newspaper Award
Published on March 20, 2024
Break out the bubbly because Secret Canada has been nominated for Project of the Year at the National Newspaper Awards. The judges recognized both our old-school Globe investigation, which exposed all the ways in which public institutions routinely break freedom of information laws, as well as the creation of SecretCanada.com, our database of 300,000-plus FOI summaries, how-to guides and request templates. (In case anyone is counting – okay, we’re counting – people have used our templates/piggyback function nearly 20,000 times so far.)
This was a labour of love for the Secret Canada team and while no one gets into this business for awards, the acknowledgement is wonderful. We’re honoured to be highlighted alongside two other incredible projects: a La Presse investigation of the affordable housing crisis in Quebec and a probe from The Telegram, which looked into the horrific living conditions at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s.
If you’re interested in revisiting the investigative side of our Secret Canada project, here are some of our most impactful pieces that ran in The Globe and Mail.
What to read
Ontario doctor’s fight for his employment records reveals flaws in Canada’s FOI system
Redacted and out of reach: Canada’s access laws keep the country’s history locked away
Editorial: Feeble FOI laws need teeth and consequences
A look at the lapses and delays for FOI requests from ministries across Canada
Alberta rejects requests for data on freedom of information system a second time
Alberta’s information watchdog opens systemic probe into ministries’ handling of access requests
Editorial: How Alberta is turning freedom of information into a Why Do You Need To Know Act
Saskatchewan information watchdog’s lack of power lets institutions skirt access law
Nova Scotia’s freedom of information system understaffed, lacks power, watchdog says
How a political scandal in Newfoundland gave rise to the country’s most transparent FOI system
New Brunswick’s access regime among the most restrictive in Canada, Globe audit finds
How can Canada fix its FOI systems? Norway, Mexico and others may offer solutions
When public officials withhold or destroy records in Canada, they rarely face consequences
What to listen to
The Decibel: The information laws governments keep breaking
The Decibel: The ‘black hole’ of Canada’s immigration system
The Decibel: Canada’s broken information laws keep history in the dark
And don’t forget the memes
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