Government is strengthening the ability to provide people with access to information in the province.

On April 1, 2015 government consolidated its information access and privacy resources under Internal Services. Centralization will give the access program greater ability to respond to requests for information, which have steadily risen to more than 1,700 a year.

Administrators will now work as part of a central team to share expertise and build best practices in disclosing information to the public.

“As a central unit using standardized procedures information access and privacy administrators will be better positioned to consistently and efficiently apply the freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation,” said Internal Services Minister Labi Kousoulis.

In 1978, Nova Scotia was the first province to implement access to information legislation.

“Since then, the courts have recognized the openness of our legislation,” said Mr. Kousoulis. “The government remains committed to being accessible, and with the restructuring of access and privacy services, we are building on that openness.”

More information is online at http://novascotia.ca/is/branch/icts/iap/ .

Source: Release