Hello all,

Yesterday's London Free Press (Sunday, October 14) had an interesting editorial on Sarnia-Lambton MPP Caroline Di Cocco's Private Member's Bill  95, the "Ethics and Transparency in Public Matters Act".  This act seeks to increase accountability in virtually every public body that depends upon public funding for its operations, including hospitals, conservation authorities and even fair boards, thereby building upon provisions that already exist in municipalities, school boards and within the provincial government.  Among the provisions, this bill would require complete public disclosure of all minutes of the organization.  The editorial strongly endorses this bill, stating "open meetings promote accountability and strengthen the democratic process."

The implications of all of this for archivists is that it may provide even greater legislative weight to our activities in preserving and providing access to such records, especially if you work in a field such as health care.  During my tenure as AAO Archives Advisor, I found it very frustrating that entities such as hospitals were not compelled to provide public access to their administrative records, unlike municipalities where there was no dodging the issue.  This bill may be a step in the right direction.

The bill has passed second reading and will now be sent for committee review.  It will likely not pass in its current form - Private Member's bills of such import rarely do - but the editorial indicates that the issue will likely be adopted by the government at some point and this is a great start.  I suggest those of you with a vested interest in seeing this bill passed, write to Ms. Di Cocco or your local MPP to indicate your support.  The bill can be viewed on-line at:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/37_Parliament/Session2/b095_e.htm

Brian Masschaele, Archivist
Elgin County Archives
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON  N5R 5V1  Canada
Phone:  519-631-1460. ext. 138  Fax:  519-631-9209
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]