Why Did Ottawa Withhold Information the U.S. Had Already Released?

Information Commissioner of Canada Caroline Maynard appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on November 2, 2026, as part of the committee's study on the state of access to information in Canada. Conservative MP Michael Cooper asks whether the government is seeking to limit the Commissioner's power to issue binding orders, as part of Treasury Board's review of the Access to Information Act. Maynard says the order-making power "cannot go away," and that about 90 per cent of her cases are resolved informally without an order. Cooper also asks whether the Privy Council Office, the department that supports the Prime Minister and cabinet, is still making what Maynard previously called "exaggerated claims of harm" to withhold documents. Maynard says submissions have improved but are not perfect, and gives an example of information that had already been released by the United States and other countries. In 2025-26, the Commissioner issued 63 orders against the Privy Council Office, the most ever for that institution. Treasury Board's discussion paper on the review suggested the Commissioner should rely more on mediation rather than issuing orders. OFFICIAL SOURCES Office of the Information Commissioner: 2025-2026 Annual Report https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/resources... Office of the Information Commissioner: Submission on the 2025 Review of the Access to Information Act (June 2026) https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/resources... Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: 2025 review of the Access to Information Act, Policy approaches (March 2026) https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-boa... House of Commons Ethics Committee (ETHI), Meeting 56, November 2, 2026. FOOTAGE CREDIT Footage: House of Commons of Canada (ParlVU) / CPAC, November 2, 2026. FAIR DEALING NOTICE This video uses excerpts of House of Commons committee proceedings for the purposes of news reporting and commentary under sections 29.1 and 29.2 of Canada's Copyright Act, with the source credited. DISCLAIMER The Canada Report is independent and not affiliated with any political party, government, or broadcaster. Statements in this video reflect the views of the speakers. #AccessToInformation #CanadaNews #MarkCarney #Transparency #PrivyCouncilOffice #Conservatives #Canada #News #Politics #CanadianPolitics #cdnpoli