Right to Know Week

International Right to Know Day was first introduced in 2002 in Sofia, Bulgaria, at an international meeting of access to information advocates. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness among citizens of their right to access government information, while promoting freedom of information as essential to both democracy and good governance. Over 40 countries and 60 non-governmental organizations celebrate Right to Know Day/Week.

The purpose of Right to Know is to raise awareness of an individual’s right to access government information, while promoting freedom of information as essential to both democracy and good governance. Annually, the municipality uses this Day / week to highlight government information that is easily accessible, yet many citizens are unaware of where to find it and/or their right to access it.

The Open Society Justice Initiative identified the 10 Right to Know Principles:

  1. Access to information is a right of everyone
  2. Access is the rule—secrecy is the exception
  3. The right applies to all public bodies
  4. Making requests should be simple, speedy, and free
  5. Officials have a duty to assist requesters
  6. Refusals must be justified
  7. The public interest takes precedence over secrecy
  8. Everyone has the right to appeal an adverse decision
  9. Public bodies should pro-actively publish core information
  10. The right should be guaranteed by an independent body

For more information, contact the City Clerk's Office at city_clerk@leduc.ca or call 780-980-7132