Comments on: Marleau: The gathering storm

By: Jackie Kent

Jackie Kent — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:39:11 +0000

I respect Col. Drapeau and his opinions, but there’s at least one disconnect for me in this letter:
“He notes that in an unprecedented closed-door, invites-only “consultation” about Marleau’s proposed changes (…) 25% of invitees were federal public servants, an “over-representation… obviously at the expense of users/ complainants””.

I’ve worked in 3 different departments as a public servant, and I occasionally have to deal with ATI requests. I’ve never sensed any desire on the part of my managers, directors, deputy ministers, or even Ministers’ Offices or the PMO to delay or obstruct any request. The delays are always due to workload issues: some of the requests can take dozens if not hundreds of hours to complete, and it’s impossible for me to abandon all of my other tasks – ie, the things the public expects me to do – every time a request shows up.

Whatever the solution may be, it will involve public servants. Having a number of them in the room when these issues are discussed is hardly an “over-representation”. How many users/ complainants are needed in the room to say “the System ain’t working”?

“Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompentency.” Or in this case, inadequate staffing.

By: SoSaidThe.Organization » Blog Archive » The Big Guns Show Up in Comment Fields

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:53:31 +0000

[...] Information Commissioner of Canada, Robert Marleau, provided his own personal reaction to a blog posting by Paul Wells, a columnist and blogger for Macleans [...]

By: Marleau: The InfoComm speaks! And speaks… : Inkless Wells : Macleans.ca Blog Central

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:37:31 +0000

[...] • Robert Marleau Imagine our surprise here at Macleans.ca when comments appeared on a post about criticism of the new Information Commissioner, Robert Marleau — comments that appeared to come from Robert Marleau. My first reaction was that this was [...]

By: Robert Marleau

Robert Marleau — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:53:29 +0000

‘Tis indeed the Commissioner and my office will confirm by phone in the morning and also correct Mr.Potter on his facts for this rescue attempt.

By: Paul Wells

Paul Wells — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:45:32 +0000

Andrew, I’m awaiting a callback from Marleau’s office on whether this is indeed him. Your point is well taken indeed, but we’re hanging fire on whether this comment is authentic.

By: Andrew Potter

Andrew Potter — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:43:10 +0000

Dear Mr. Marleau — if indeed it is you in the above comment:

So if it is so important for you to give your side of the story, why didn’t you do so when we (at the Ottawa Citizen) tried — repeatedly — to get you to reply to Drapeau’s letters for the story Andrew Thomson wrote for us, which Paul Wells links above?

We asked for the other side of the story. You refused to give it.

Sincerely,

Andrew Potter
Public Affairs columnist, Maclean’s
News editor, Ottawa Citizen

By: Robert Marleau

Robert Marleau — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:49:58 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me how somewhat reputable journalists, sometimes go for the easy headline without the courtesy of asking for the other side of the story before formulating a judgment. Every syllogism has two premises before a conclusion can be sustained. Your last 2 blogs were based on only one premise:
1) The commissioner reports 0 systemic investigations, therefore he has abandonned them.
2)Some critics say the commissioner is anemic, therefore he is anemic.
I would have expected better journalism from you and better overall from Maclean’s.
The Commish

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:30:24 +0000

Great letter from Drapeau. Here’s hoping the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics gets on with this and calls Marleau in.

By: LeslieE

LeslieE — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:00:35 +0000

The last sentence in the Ottawa Citizen article – “…a spokeswoman … said the information commissioner’s office was committed to improving the status quo…”.
Worth a smile.

By: Access to Information wants to be free. From Robert Marleau. : Inside the Queensway : Macleans.ca Blog Central

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:28:00 +0000

[...] to Information • cranky letters • michel drapeau • Robert Marleau Wells has the full story on the soon-to-be-infamous Drapeau letter, in which the retired colonel has a few home truths for [...]