Canadians have the right to access public knowledge/information such as records, correspondence, and reports at the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. With the increase in governmental transparency and accountability, plus the availability of information, members of the public can be informed about the decisions that are being made.
The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act give Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and any person or corporation residing in Canada the right to request information under the auspices of the Government of Canada.
Personal information held by the Government of Canada and its institutions is covered by the Privacy Act, while government information requests are made in accordance with the Access to Information Act.