Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner. Guide to FOIP, Chapter 3, Access to Records. Updated 5 May 2023. 178 • Specifying categories of records for routine disclosure: Section 65.1 of FOIP provides that government institutions may specify categories of records in their possession or under their control that will be made available to the public without a request for access under FOIP. This is intended to enable government institutions to take a proactive approach by setting up channels for the release of information. This approach promotes openness and accountability. Active Dissemination Active dissemination occurs when information or records are periodically released without any request, under a program or communications plan.304 Active dissemination is best used where there is an anticipated demand for information by the public. For example, a government institution may establish sites or online databases where interested citizens can obtain information. Open government is a governing culture that holds the public has the right to access the documents and proceedings of government to allow for greater openness, accountability, and engagement.305 Open data is the idea that data should be freely available for everyone to access, use and republish as they wish, published without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control. Public sector information made available to the public as open data is termed ‘Open Government Data’.306 In Canada, the access to information and privacy commissioners are advocates for open government and promote the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive disclosure, and ultimately to open government.307 Examples of open data or active dissemination by government institutions in Saskatchewan include: • Ministry of Energy and Resources – Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database; 304 Service Alberta, FOIP Guidelines and Practices: 2009 Edition, Chapter 2 at p. 33. 305 Government of Canada, Open Data 101, 2017, available at www.open.canada.ca/en/open-dataprinciples. 306 Open Government Partnership, Open Government Guide, at p. 197. Available at www.opengovguide.com. 307 Resolution of Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners, September 1, 2010. Cited in SK OIPC Investigation Report LA-2012-002 at [68].
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