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Some passages in the 17 pages of government records have been declared cabinet confidences, meaning they cannot be disclosed.

The fact that a Liberal government is choosing to exercise this particular exemption, I think, says a lot about the overall state of mind within government about freedom of information — and about what the public has a right to know, and what the public doesn’t have a right to know

But the department could have released the pages containing advice and deliberations, Holman said after reviewing the records, noting the exemption is not a mandatory one that must be applied under the law.

“The fact that a Liberal government is choosing to exercise this particular exemption, I think, says a lot about the overall state of mind within government about freedom of information — and about what the public has a right to know, and what the public doesn’t have a right to know,” Holman said.

“What would be so wrong in letting the public know about what options are under consideration? It would simply result in a debate about those options. The government would be better informed about where the public stands on this particular issue.”

Jean-Luc Ferland, a spokesman for Brison, said ministers were working to improve the law with a mandate to make information open by default. “This will require a consultation with parliamentarians, agents and officers of Parliament, and other stakeholders.”

The pages that were disclosed do confirm that Treasury Board officials see a need to strengthen the right of access.

The Access to Information Act has remained largely unchanged since 1983 and is now out of sync with the digital environment and public expectations, one page says.

The Liberal government made several access reform commitments during the election campaign, including expansion of the law to cover ministers’ offices and administrative institutions that support Parliament and the courts.