Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of Suzanne Legault as Canada's interim Information Commissioner.
Ms. Legault will assume her responsibilities upon the retirement of the current Information Commissioner, Robert Marleau, on June 29.
“I would like to thank Ms. Legault for agreeing to take on the role of Information Commissioner on an interim basis,” said the Prime Minister. “I also want to extend my appreciation for the contributions made by Mr. Marleau over his distinguished career.”
The Prime Minister also announced that the selection process for a new permanent Information Commissioner is underway.
The Office of the Information Commissioner was created in 1983 under the Access to Information Act, Canada's freedom of information legislation. An agent of Parliament, the Information Commissioner oversees the implementation of the Access to Information Act by government institutions. The Information Commissioner investigates complaints from individuals who believe they have been denied rights under the Act. The Information Commissioner is also responsible for mediating between dissatisfied applicants and government institutions.
