Latest news with #ServiceAlberta
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Information and privacy commissioner says Alberta rejected of her two recommendations
Alberta's information and privacy commissioner says she is prepared to investigate the province's response to access to information requests, should it continue to ignore two recommendations her office made earlier this year. In May, Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod published a report that followed a 21-month investigation into how the province was handling requests made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). She found that 27 government departments relied on policies that broke FOIP laws, and issued a report with multiple recommendations to make responses to requests compliant with the legislation. On Friday, McLeod stated in a news release that Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally wrote her last month on behalf of all government public bodies indicating the province was accepting most, but not all, of her recommendations. 'I am pleased that the government has accepted most of my recommendations and either has implemented or is in the process of implementing them,' said McLeod. 'However, I was disappointed to read that the government is not accepting two of the recommendations.' Those two recommendations centre around the province's practice of limiting the number of topics in an access to information request, and splitting requests with multiple topics into several new requests at the cost of more fees. McLeod said she wants to know if the government is still pursuing those policies under new legislation, The Access to Information Act (ATIA), which came into force on June 11 and superseded the FOIP Act. 'I will be monitoring requests for review coming into my office concerning Government of Alberta public bodies to determine whether this activity is still occurring under ATIA,' McLeod said. 'If I find this to be the case, I will investigate under ATIA to determine whether the government public bodies are permitted to require applicants to split access requests and their rationale for the same.' In a statement, the office of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said his department respects McLeod's role but that his job is 'to get Albertans the information they request, quickly, lawfully, and efficiently.' 'Expecting government to process massive, multi-topic requests as a single file is a recipe for delays, backlogs, and frustration,' it reads. 'We are focused on getting results for Albertans and won't adopt policies that make the system slower.' Nally has previously defended the new access to information rules as a necessary upgrade on dated legislation. Critics, including McLeod, have described ATIA's exemptions around political staff and cabinet as too broad, and noted the legislation also extends response timelines from 30 calendar days to 30 business days. In June, the involvement of McLeod's office prompted the government to publish the results of a FOIP request made 21 months earlier by Postmedia for the initial long-form responses to the province's 2023 pension survey, and share a summary of the complete survey results soon after. Her office is also in receipt of three requests for review of the province's response to ATIA requests from Postmedia for the early results of Alberta Next consultation surveys on immigration and a provincial pension plan, as well as open-answer replies, all of which the government has chosen to withhold. mblack@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Information and privacy commissioner says Alberta rejected of her two recommendations
Alberta's information and privacy commissioner says she is prepared to investigate the province's response to access to information requests, should it continue to ignore two recommendations her office made earlier this year. Article content In May, Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod published a report that followed a 21-month investigation into how the province was handling requests made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). Article content Article content Article content She found that 27 government departments relied on policies that broke FOIP laws, and issued a report with multiple recommendations to make responses to requests compliant with the legislation. Article content Article content 'I am pleased that the government has accepted most of my recommendations and either has implemented or is in the process of implementing them,' said McLeod. 'However, I was disappointed to read that the government is not accepting two of the recommendations.' Article content Those two recommendations centre around the province's practice of limiting the number of topics in an access to information request, and splitting requests with multiple topics into several new requests at the cost of more fees. Article content Article content McLeod said she wants to know if the government is still pursuing those policies under new legislation, The Access to Information Act (ATIA), which came into force on June 11 and superseded the FOIP Act. Article content 'I will be monitoring requests for review coming into my office concerning Government of Alberta public bodies to determine whether this activity is still occurring under ATIA,' McLeod said. Article content 'If I find this to be the case, I will investigate under ATIA to determine whether the government public bodies are permitted to require applicants to split access requests and their rationale for the same.' Article content In a statement, the office of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said his department respects McLeod's role but that his job is 'to get Albertans the information they request, quickly, lawfully, and efficiently.'
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Information and privacy commissioner says Alberta rejected of her two recommendations
Alberta's information and privacy commissioner says she is prepared to investigate the province's response to access to information requests, should it continue to ignore two recommendations her office made earlier this year. Article content In May, Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod published a report that followed a 21-month investigation into how the province was handling requests made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). Article content Article content Article content She found that 27 government departments relied on policies that broke FOIP laws, and issued a report with multiple recommendations to make responses to requests compliant with the legislation. Article content Article content 'I am pleased that the government has accepted most of my recommendations and either has implemented or is in the process of implementing them,' said McLeod. 'However, I was disappointed to read that the government is not accepting two of the recommendations.' Article content Those two recommendations centre around the province's practice of limiting the number of topics in an access to information request, and splitting requests with multiple topics into several new requests at the cost of more fees. Article content Article content McLeod said she wants to know if the government is still pursuing those policies under new legislation, The Access to Information Act (ATIA), which came into force on June 11 and superseded the FOIP Act. Article content 'I will be monitoring requests for review coming into my office concerning Government of Alberta public bodies to determine whether this activity is still occurring under ATIA,' McLeod said. Article content 'If I find this to be the case, I will investigate under ATIA to determine whether the government public bodies are permitted to require applicants to split access requests and their rationale for the same.' Article content In a statement, the office of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said his department respects McLeod's role but that his job is 'to get Albertans the information they request, quickly, lawfully, and efficiently.'
Calgary Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Alberta cuts red tape around gaming, liquor and cannabis regulations
A cannabis infused cocktail created by mixologist James Mulholland in a downtown Edmonton test kitchen on May 25, 2023. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia, file Alberta has taken another swipe at reducing red tape by giving rural breweries and cannabis growers the freedom to sell their wares directly to customers. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The province announced 'red tape reduction changes' to the gaming, liquor and cannabis regulations in a July 2 news release. The changes are intended to 'directly open more opportunities for small manufacturers to grow their businesses.' 'This was actually a classic example of the need for red tape reduction,' said Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, who added that the changes were developed as the result of multiple red tape reduction roundtables between the province and liquor and cannabis producers. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The changes will permit small liquor producers to operate party bike tours while serving their brand's products. Additionally, businesses that own or lease large buildings can dedicate a segment of their space to create a separate liquor store as long as they meet certain conditions. The new regulations also give Alberta's cannabis cultivators and growers the freedom to provide 'farm gate' sales, allowing customers to buy cannabis right from the grower instead of at a retail store. Nally said the issue of party bike licensing was brought to his attention by a small-town brewery owner who offered party bike tours, but was not allowed to sell their own brewery's beer on the tours. ' They could operate the bike and sell their competitors' beer, but not their own,' Nally said, ' So we just cut the red tape and we made it easier.' In practical terms, breweries are now allowed to attain a public conveyance licence, which permits the sale and consumption of liquor in public vehicles licensed to operate in Alberta, according to the AGLC. Urban Pedal Tours co-owner Michael Moice says the changes likely won't impact breweries in Edmonton and Calgary, where his company's tours operate, but will be more important in rural areas like Red Deer and Medicine Hat, where some breweries do operate party bikes. Moice feels the changes are 'g ood for competition in general,' but that the new policy may still be too restrictive for smaller breweries. ' I do think it's a little restrictive if they're only allowed to sell their products. It may not hinder medium-sized breweries, but for the smaller ones, it may hurt their bottom line. '
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta, Saskatchewan to resume buying US alcohol
Canada's Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces have started allowing the sale of US alcohol again. In March, Canadian provinces started removing US products from liquor store shelves in the midst of an ongoing tariff spat with the country. In a statement sent to Just Drinks yesterday (12 June), Dave Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, confirmed Alberta had removed restrictions on US alcohol purchases. "The decision sets the stage for more constructive negotiations ahead of a Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement renewal, potentially leading to increased trade opportunities and economic growth for Alberta," he said. A spokesperson for Minister Nally's office also confirmed Saskatchewan's resumption of US alcohol purchases. Just Drinks has contacted the Saskatchewan province to confirm the news. Minister Nally said Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney was making "a clear effort to reset the relationship with the US administration, and Alberta's government supports this approach". He added: "Alberta has always supported a proportionate response to US tariffs and recognises that any tariffs imposed have a negative impact on consumers, business, and industry. "However, Alberta's fully private liquor model distinguishes it from other provinces, resulting in different applications and outcomes from trade measures. Further, the US has also refrained from restricting the import of Canadian products." While both provinces have resumed purchases, Canada still has a 25% tariff in place on US alcohol imports. According to Canada's The Globe and Mail, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters at a conference Monday (9 June) that the province would not be buying US alcohol until US President Donald Trump pulled tariffs on Canadian goods. At the same event, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also reportedly said: 'We're not putting the U.S. booze on the shelves in Nova Scotia.' Navigate the shifting tariff landscape with real-time data and market-leading analysis. . "Alberta, Saskatchewan to resume buying US alcohol" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
