Information Rights Week April 21-26, 1997

[Stacy Matwick]

I'm not sure how may of you are able to attend any of these discussions,
but for you other Canadians on this list, look in your communities for
local activities. 
Thanks
Stacy Matwick
Information Centre
International Institute for Sustainable Development
161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4
Telephone: 1-204-958-7755
Fax: 1-204-958-7710
E-mail: smatwick at iisdpost.iisd.ca
WWW home page:  http://iisd1.iisd.ca


>                         ANNOUNCEMENT
>  
>           INFORMATION RIGHTS WEEK: APRIL 21 - 26, 1997
>  
> SPONSORED BY:  MANITOBA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
>                PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF MANITOBA
>  
>                ADMISSION FREE --  EVERYONE WELCOME
>  
> Information rights are about equal and timely access to public
> information for all citizens.
>  
> "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean
> to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that
> knowledge gives."   [James Madison]
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #1
> 7 p.m. Monday, April 21
> Centennial Library Auditorium
> 251 Donald Street             
>  
> "Politics: Market Place of Ideas or Political Theatre?"
>  
> Can the decision-making process move away from the constant
> dangers of lobbying, patronage, propaganda, secrecy and
> partisanship to a more full, open and honest discussion of the
> issues?
>  
> --   Professor Ken Gibbons, University of Winnipeg (Moderator)
> --   Len Jacobson, Keystone Agriculture Producers
> --   Dan Kelly, Canadian Independent Federation of Business
> --   Ian MacIntyre, Manitoba Teachers' Society
> --   Jim Silver, Choices
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #2
> 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22
> Centennial Library Auditorium
> 251 Donald Street             
>  
> "The Role of the Public Servant in Releasing Government
> Information and Discussing Issues"
>  
> Are public servants to be held to an oath of secrecy?  Can they
> participate in debates and discussions as citizens too?  Do we
> need American style whistle-blowing legislation to protect the
> rights of public servants to divulge critical information?
>  
> --   Peter Olfert, Manitoba Government Employees Union
> --   Paul Moist, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 500
> --   Peter Holle, Prairie Research Centre
> --   Lawrie Cherniak, Labour lawyer
> --   Management representatives from the City and Provincial
>      Governments
>  
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #3
> 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23
> Centennial Library Auditorium
> 251 Donald Street             
>  
> "Environment as a Case Study for Information Accessibility"
>  
> Environmental impact assessments are required to be conducted
> with full access to information and citizen participation.  
> Is this a model for other sectors of society -- social, 
> economic, etc?
>  
> --   Marlene Roy, International Institute for Sustainable
>      Development (Moderator)
> --   Norm Brandson, Deputy Minister, Manitoba Environment
> --   Glen Koroluk, Environmental researcher
> --   Member, Manitoba Round Table on the Environment and Economy
> --   Elizabeth Fleming, Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #4
> 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24
> University Women's Club
> 54 West Gate
>  
> "The Role of Education in Creating Informed, Concerned Citizens"
>  
> What is the role of education and academic experts in raising the
> level of debate and developing critical skills in future voters?
>  
> --   Paul Nielson, President, Manitoba Library Association
> --   Ron Kirbyson, History teacher and author
> --   Professor Curtis Nordman, University of Winnipeg
> --   Judith Dueck, School librarian
> --   Lloyd Kornelson, World Issues teacher
>  
>                
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #5
> NOON, Friday, April 25
> Centennial Library Auditorium
> 251 Donald Street        
>  
> "Shaping the News: Government, Opposition Parties and the Media"
>  
> --   Professor Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba (Moderator)   
> --   Arlene Billinkoff, former columnist, Winnipeg Free Press
> --   Kirk Williams, CBC-TV Legislative reporter
> --   David Hickey, Communications staff - Liberal
> --   Terry Goertzen, former Communications staff - NDP
> --   Barbara Biggar, Biggar Ideas (former Director of Cabinet
>      Communications Secretariat, Filmon Government)    
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #6
> 9 a.m. - NOON, Saturday, April 26
> Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall
> University of Winnipeg
> 515 Portage Avenue  
>  
> "Freedom of Information"
> How effective are the federal, provincial and municipal Freedom
> of Information Acts in giving citizens timely access to critical
> information?
>  
> --   Paul Nielson, President, Manitoba Library Association
>      (Moderator) 
> --   J. Alan Leadbeater, Deputy Information Commissioner of
>      Canada
> --   Barry Tuckett, Ombudsman Manitoba
> --   Virginia Menzies, Ombudsman, City of Winnipeg
> --   Paul Samyn, Legislative reporter, Winnipeg Free Press
> --   Cec Rosner, CBC-TV, I-team Producer
>  
> PANEL DISCUSSION  #7
> 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, April 26
> Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall
> University of Winnipeg
> 515 Portage Avenue  
>  
> "A New Horizon for Access to Information and Citizen
> Participation on the Information Highway"
>  
> --   Steve Clift, Director, Northstar Project of the Minnesota
>      Government
> --   Sheldon Mains, Minnesota E-Democracy
>  
> will discuss the most developed model of a working electronic
> democracy.
>  
>      Acknowledgements for Venues: 
>      University Women's Club and Winnipeg Public Library
>  
> For more information - posters, brochures - call:
>      Paul Nielson (204) 943-4567 or
>      Elizabeth Fleming (204) 488-0592
> 
> 	
> 
>