[open-government] Canadian Election Platforms - Open Data and Open Government

Mon Apr 11 01:32:23 UTC 2011

Here is the revised post.  Thank you Emma from the Greens for the phone
call!

 Election Platforms – Open Data – Open Government

April 10, 2011

http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/election-platforms-open-data-open-government/

Below you will find excerpts from the platforms of: 1)
Liberals<http://cdn.liberal.ca/files/2011/04/liberal_platform.pdf>,
2) Greens<http://greenparty.ca/files/attachments/april_2011_vision_green.pdf>2)
Bloc <http://www.blocquebecois.org/accueil.aspx>, and 4)
NDP<http://www.ndp.ca/platform>.  They are in order from best to very
minimalist.  The
*Liberal* platform is the most developed, the* Greens* include the key Open
Data principles and many elements of open government throughout their vision
document, the *Bloc* includes Access to information and copyright, the
*NDP*only talks about copyright.  I did not include the Conservatives,
since they
said they would do all these things, with transparency being one of their
most important platforms in past elections, and, well we all know what
happened, opaqueness, cancellation of the census, decimation of science
institutions, attacks on the CRTC, copyright nefariousness, and etc.

The Liberals and the Greens mention *open data*.  As for *open government,*the
Liberals are the only party to include this in their platform and they hit
all the right items: formats, no costs, access, census online, transparency,
accountability and actions.  The Greens mention open government data, but
not the organizational, culture and policy aspects of open government. The
Greens do however include the principles of *open data* whereas the
Liberalsdo not go into much detail.  In French, the concept of open
government is
called *Gouvernement transparent*, the Bloc discusses transparency quite a
bit but not framed as open government.  Both the Liberals, Bloc and
Greensaddress
*Access to Information,* the Bloc is explicit about legal reform,
Greenswant more transparency and the
Liberals offer actions.  The Liberals, Bloc and NDP address
*Copyright*reform and the
Greens mention copyright in the context of students and the ability to do
research.  If you want more detailed analysis on that file I recommend Digital
Copyright Canada <http://www.digital-copyright.ca/election2011/blog> as a
resource. Only the Greens mention open data *Licences* and only the
Greensdiscuss
*open source*.  *Archiving* is also not included nor is there mention of the
abolition of *cost recovery* although the Liberals discuss access to free
data online.  I already created two earlier posts on the Census
(Eng<http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/2011/04/10/election-platform-platforme-electorale-lf-census-recensement-fl/>.
and Fr.<http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/2011/04/10/plate-formes-electorales-le-recensement-formulaire-long/>).
There is much talk about science in all the platforms, and I want to go back
and take a look at those areas as often data issues can be found there.  The
NDP have missed the boat on all fronts on open data and open government.

*1. The Liberal
Platform<http://cdn.liberal.ca/files/2011/04/liberal_platform.pdf>
*:

*Open Government**. *

Canada’s federal government must embrace information technology and *open
data* in order to improve services to Canadians and make government more
transparent and accountable for public spending. Putting Statistics Canada
and other government data online wherever possible, after meeting all
privacy and other legal requirements, will strengthen Canadian democracy,
help create and disseminate knowledge and spur innovation.

A key element of the Liberal plan for democratic renewal is *Open Government
*. Liberals will adopt a new approach to information, issuing
government-wide direction that the default position for all departments and
agencies will be to release information to the public, both proactively and
responsively, after privacy and other legal requirements are met. This
initiative will see as many government datasets as possible available to the
public online, *free of charge* in an *open and searchable format*.

Furthermore, all* Access to Information* requests and responses will be
posted online. This new presumption of openness will also drive a new level
of accountability for public finances. We will establish a searchable,
online database for grants, contributions and contracts.
All levels of government, civil society, researchers, business and the
public must have access to independent and reliable statistics and
demographic information to make informed decisions and develop sound public
policy to benefit all Canadians. Therefore, a Liberal government will
restore the mandatory long form census.

* **Fair balance Between Creators and Consumers.* Digital technology offers
many new opportunities, but enjoying content without compensating its
creators shouldn’t be among them. At the same time, consumers should have
freedom for personal use of digital content they rightfully possess.
Liberals have worked to pass effective *copyright legislation*, including a
private copying compensation fund instead of any new tax on consumers.

*2. The Green Platform<http://greenparty.ca/files/attachments/april_2011_vision_green.pdf>
*

*6.7 Open Government Data*

For all public data where there are no privacy, security or other legal
concerns preventing the data from being shared, data will be reviewed by the
Privacy Commissioner of Canada via Personal Information Protection and
Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA) and made publicly available under the
following conditions:

   - With the highest level of granularity and detail possible which still
   maintains the privacy of individual citizens.
   - In a timely fashion so that the value of the data is preserved.
   - Accessible to the widest range of users for the widest range of
   purposes in a nonproprietary format.
   - Machine processable and structured to allow automated processing,
   without having to mechanically harvest the data before using it.
   - Non-discriminatory and available to everyone without having to register
   or self-identify
   as being interested in the data.
   - With a license that does not encumber the user, and ideally without a
   license at all.

 *1.9 Open source computer software*

As computer hardware improves, it is important that software programs are
readily modifiable by the people who buy and use them. Developing alongside
the proprietary software sector is Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS).
This software is generally available at little or no cost, making it very
popular in the developing world. It can be used, copied, studied, modified
and redistributed with little or no restriction. Businesses can adapt the
software to their specific needs.

Under the free software business model, vendors may charge a fee for
distribution and offer paid support and customization services. Free
software gives users the ability to work together enhancing and refining the
programs they use. It is a pure public good rather than a private good.

The Green Party supports the goals and ideals of Free/Libre Open Source
Software (FLOSS) and believes that Canada’s competitiveness in global
information technology (IT) will be greatly enhanced by strongly supporting
FLOSS. Green Party MPs will:

   - Ensure that all new software developed for or by government is based on
   open standards and encourage and support a nationwide transition to FLOSS in
   all critical government IT systems. This will make Canada’s IT
   infrastructure more secure and robust, lower administration and licensing
   costs, and develop IT skills.
   - Support the transition to FLOSS throughout the post-secondary
   educational system.

 *6.2 Increasing government accountability and ethical conduct*

   - Update the Access to Information Act to permit greater transparency of
   government activities.

 *2. Bloc Québécois<http://www.blocquebecois.org/document.aspx?doc=788E6B46-7F22-4474-B71D-B7C807EF7137>
*

*2.3.2 Le Bloc Québécois s’assurera que la nouvelle Loi sur le **droit
d’auteur** *soit équitable et ne désavantage ni les créateurs ni les
consommateurs, notamment en modernisant le système de copie privée en
appliquant aux lecteurs MP3 et autres baladeurs numériques des redevances
raisonnables en redistribution aux artistes, en abolissant l’exemption du
monde de l’éducation quant aux paiements des droits d’auteur, et en
reconnaissant le droit de suite pour les artistes en arts visuels.

*Loi sur l’accès à l’information* La commissaire à l’information est
formelle. Le gouvernement Harper ne démontre pas une culture de transparence
et cette attitude est dictée par le premier ministre. En effet, son
ministère, le Bureau du Conseil privé, passe en revue les demandes d’accès à
l’information sensibles adressées au gouvernement, puis les retient et les
retarde.

Un employé du ministère des Travaux publics a même ordonné à des
fonctionnaires de retarder indûment la publication de documents
compromettants pour le gouvernement. La situation est telle que la
commissaire à l’information a entrepris une enquête formelle sur trois
ministres, dont Christian Paradis, de laquelle pourraient découler des
peines de prison.

*1.4.2 Le Bloc Québécois présentera au Parlement un projet de loi pour
réformer complètement la Loi sur l’accès à l’information.*Ce projet de loi,
rendu public en juin 2008, est inspiré du projet de loi préparé par l’ancien
commissaire à l’information, John Reid, et favorise un meilleur accès à
l’information.

*4. The NDP <http://xfer.ndp.ca/2011/2011-Platform/NDP-2011-Platform-En.pdf>
*

We will introduce a bill on *copyright reform* to ensure that Canada
complies with its international treaty obligations, while balancing
consumers’ and creators’ rights.

I did not include an analysis of broadband, Internet metering, wireless,
etc.  as I just do not have the expertise to do so.  All platforms had
positions here.  Open data and an open government require pipes to move all
that data, and these should also be considered.  Many of the platforms also
included items on media concentration, associated to the idea of open
government but beyond the scope for this post.

********************

The post below is wrong.  The above is the corrected version

On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 8:33 PM, Tracey P. Lauriault <tlauriau at gmail.com>wrote:

> *Election Platforms – Open Data – Open Government*
>
> http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/election-platforms-open-data-open-government/
>
> Below you will find excerpts from the platforms of: 1) Liberals<http://cdn.liberal.ca/files/2011/04/liberal_platform.pdf>,
> 2) Bloc <http://www.blocquebecois.org/accueil.aspx>, 3) NDP<http://www.ndp.ca/platform>and 4)
> Greens <http://greenparty.ca/platform2011>.  They are in order from best
> to non-existent.  The *Liberal* platform is the most developed, the *Bloc*includes Access to information and copyright, the
> *NDP* only talks about copyright, and the *Greens*, well nada.  I did not
> include the Conservatives, since they said they would do all these things,
> with transparency being one of their most important platforms in past
> elections, and, well we all know what happened, opaqueness, cancellation of
> the census, decimation of science institutions, attacks on the CRTC,
> copyright nefariousness, and etc.
>
> Only the Liberals mention *open data*.  As for *open government,* the
> Liberals are the only party to include this in their platform and they hit
> all the right items: formats, no costs, access, census online, transparency,
> accountability and actions.  In French, the concept is called *Gouvernement
> transparent*, the Bloc discusses transparency quite a bit but not framed
> as open government.  Both the Liberals and the Bloc address *Access to
> Information,* the Bloc is explicit about legal reform and the Liberalsoffer actions.  The
> Liberals, Bloc and NDP address *Copyright* reform.  If you want more
> detailed analysis on that file I recommend Digital Copyright Canada<http://www.digital-copyright.ca/election2011/blog>as a resource.
> *Licences* are discussed primarily in the context of broadband and
> communications.  I would like to find some good analysis about the various
> platforms on broadband, open Internet, billing, wireless, digital divide,
> access and so on.  Not surprisingly, *open source* is not mentioned,
> although within R & D and technological innovation we see the mention of
> software.  I will look at that later.   *Archiving* is also not included
> nor is there mention of *cost recovery* although the Liberals discuss
> access to free data online.  I already created two earlier posts on the
> Census (Eng<http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/2011/04/10/election-platform-platforme-electorale-lf-census-recensement-fl/>.
> and Fr.<http://datalibre.ca/2011/04/10/2011/04/10/plate-formes-electorales-le-recensement-formulaire-long/>).
> There is much talk about science in all the platforms, and I want to go back
> and take a look at those areas as often data issues can be found there.  I
> must say, the Greens are not only not talking data, they are also pretty
> slim and trim on science, which, in both cases is very disappointing. It is
> also a hugely missed opportunity by the NDP, I expected more here.
>
> *1. The Liberal Platform<http://cdn.liberal.ca/files/2011/04/liberal_platform.pdf>
> *:
>
> *Open Government**. *
>
> Canada’s federal government must embrace information technology and *open
> data* in order to improve services to Canadians and make government more
> transparent and accountable for public spending. Putting Statistics Canada
> and other government data online wherever possible, after meeting all
> privacy and other legal requirements, will strengthen Canadian democracy,
> help create and disseminate knowledge and spur innovation.
>
> A key element of the Liberal plan for democratic renewal is *Open
> Government*. Liberals will adopt a new approach to information, issuing
> government-wide direction that the default position for all departments and
> agencies will be to release information to the public, both proactively and
> responsively, after privacy and other legal requirements are met. This
> initiative will see as many government datasets as possible available to the
> public online, *free of charge* in an *open and searchable format*.
>
> Furthermore, all* Access to Information* requests and responses will be
> posted online. This new presumption of openness will also drive a new level
> of accountability for public finances. We will establish a searchable,
> online database for grants, contributions and contracts.
> All levels of government, civil society, researchers, business and the
> public must have access to independent and reliable statistics and
> demographic information to make informed decisions and develop sound public
> policy to benefit all Canadians. Therefore, a Liberal government will
> restore the mandatory long form census.
>
> * **Fair balance Between Creators and Consumers.* Digital technology
> offers many new opportunities, but enjoying content without compensating its
> creators shouldn’t be among them. At the same time, consumers should have
> freedom for personal use of digital content they rightfully possess.
> Liberals have worked to pass effective *copyright legislation*, including
> a private copying compensation fund instead of any new tax on consumers.
>
> *2. Bloc Québécois<http://www.blocquebecois.org/document.aspx?doc=788E6B46-7F22-4474-B71D-B7C807EF7137>
> *
>
> *2.3.2 Le Bloc Québécois s’assurera que la nouvelle Loi sur le **droit
> d’auteur** *soit équitable et ne désavantage ni les créateurs ni les
> consommateurs, notamment en modernisant le système de copie privée en
> appliquant aux lecteurs MP3 et autres baladeurs numériques des redevances
> raisonnables en redistribution aux artistes, en abolissant l’exemption du
> monde de l’éducation quant aux paiements des droits d’auteur, et en
> reconnaissant le droit de suite pour les artistes en arts visuels.
>
> *Loi sur l’accès à l’information* La commissaire à l’information est
> formelle. Le gouvernement Harper ne démontre pas une culture de transparence
> et cette attitude est dictée par le premier ministre. En effet, son
> ministère, le Bureau du Conseil privé, passe en revue les demandes d’accès à
> l’information sensibles adressées au gouvernement, puis les retient et les
> retarde.
>
> Un employé du ministère des Travaux publics a même ordonné à des
> fonctionnaires de retarder indûment la publication de documents
> compromettants pour le gouvernement. La situation est telle que la
> commissaire à l’information a entrepris une enquête formelle sur trois
> ministres, dont Christian Paradis, de laquelle pourraient découler des
> peines de prison.
>
> *1.4.2 Le Bloc Québécois présentera au Parlement un projet de loi pour
> réformer complètement la Loi sur l’accès à l’information.*Ce projet de
> loi, rendu public en juin 2008, est inspiré du projet de loi préparé par
> l’ancien commissaire à l’information, John Reid, et favorise un meilleur
> accès à l’information.
>
> *3. The NDP<http://xfer.ndp.ca/2011/2011-Platform/NDP-2011-Platform-En.pdf>
> *
>
> We will introduce a bill on *copyright reform* to ensure that Canada
> complies with its international treaty obligations, while balancing
> consumers’ and creators’ rights.
>
> 4. *The Greens<http://greenparty.ca/files/attachments/green-book-2011-en.pdf>
> *
>
> Absent
>
> --
> Tracey P. Lauriault
> 613-234-2805
> http://traceyplauriault.ca/
>
>
>
>

-- 
Tracey P. Lauriault
613-234-2805
http://traceyplauriault.ca/
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