BC INFORMATION SUMMIT | Open Government: What Works and What Doesn't

Summit Agenda

Morning Session: Access to Information – The Challenges

8:45-9:00	Welcoming Remarks Hon. Olga Ilich , Minister of Labour & Citizens' Services, BC
9:00–9:45	Keynote Address Why Open Government? What do we mean by ‘open government' and why is it vital? David Mitchell, Vice President, University Relations, University of Ottawa; writer, historian and former MLA
9:45–11:00	Panel Discussion Desperately Seeking Data: Dealing with the Barriers to Access (requester perspectives) Chair: Mitch Anderson, former Staff Scientist with Sierra Legal Defence Fund Sara MacIntyre, BC Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Anne-Marie DeLorey, Staff Representative, Health Research and Policy, BC Government and Service Employees' Union Kirk LaPointe, Managing Editor, the Vancouver Sun Randy Christensen, staff lawyer, Sierra Legal Defence Fund
11:00–11:15	Break
11:15–12:15	Panel Discussion The Challenges of Governing in a Fishbowl (government perspectives) Joyce Murray, Former Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection, and former Minister of Management Services, BC Paul Ramsey, Former Minister of Finance, Minister of Health and Minister of Education, BC Mel Rothenburger, Editor, Kamloops Daily News; former Mayor of Kamloops
12:15–1:15	Buffet Lunch (Provided)

Afternoon Session: Access to Information – The Solutions

1:15–2:00	Keynote Address Rethinking Freedom of Information What was originally intended and where are we today? What's working and not working? Is there a better way forward? Murray Rankin, QC , Heenan Blaikie LLP; Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Victoria ; former special advisor on the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
2:00–3:30	Panel Discussion Lifting the Curtain – Possible Solutions to the Problems of Access Chair: Gerald Fahey, Barrister and Solicitor, Epstein Wood; former President, BC Freedom Of Information & Privacy Association Blair Lekstrom, MLA, former Chair, Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Geoff Plant, QC, Heenan Blaikie LLP; former Attorney General of BC Ann Rees, Instructor, Journalism Program, Kwantlen College Mel Rothenburger, Editor, Kamloops Daily News; former Mayor of Kamloops
3:30 – 4:00	Break
4:00 – 5:00	Panel Discussion *Views from the Commissioners* David Loukidelis, Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC Gary Dickson, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan

THE BC INFORMATION SUMMIT

September 29, 2006
The Theatre at UBC Robson Square Campus

Ticket prices:
Early Bird Rates are available until
September 18, 2006.
All rates include
a buffet lunch.

Organization
$75 (early bird) $90 (regular)

Individual
$55 (early bird) $65 (regular)

Senior/Student
$25 (early bird) $30 (regular)