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Canada’s information watchdog is cautiously optimistic as the Liberal government begins focusing its so-called sunny ways on the clouds of obfuscation that have enveloped the country’s much-maligned access to information system.

“I will judge the actions of the government on its concrete steps,” Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault said Tuesday. “So far there are positive messages, and we will see what the concrete actions are going to be. And then I will comment on those concrete actions if and when they happen.”

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The Liberals promised during the election campaign to bring in significant changes to the access to information system, including making government information open to the public by default. They also promised to expand the access law to include ministers’ offices, which are currently exempt from such public scrutiny, and to give Legault more power.

The promises come after years of complaints from Legault and others about the growing level of secrecy inside federal departments and agencies, and amid calls to update the 30-year-old Access to Information Act. Legault reiterated those concerns Tuesday as her most recent annual report on the system was released.