r/canadaguns • u/Mythic01 • 7h ago

News / Politics / Activism Access to information requests

Figured I'd submit an access to information request to Alberta Justice to see the real story on why/why not the ASFCP hasn't made any effort to setup a mobile collection unit in province, the obvious aside.

Only to be met with a fee request of $15,000.

Looks like a great way to prevent the citizens from attaining access to the information they're entitled to.

6 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

7

u/Mythic01 7h ago

Ok, 13k. I rounded up a lil.

My request is for any records relating to enacting collection for the ASFCP program in Alberta.

7

u/pr0cyn1c 7h ago

The reason you're not 'entitled' to anything in this case is clearly listed.
I'd be more interested in seeing how you worded your request in such a way as to precipitate a 13K bill. What did you ask for and how? details. Maybe you can reword the request to narrow scope of the request.

edit for clarity of thought

-5

u/Mythic01 7h ago

"I am requesting all records held by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, including the Alberta Chief Firearms Office, relating to the federal Assault Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP), specifically regarding the planning, consideration, development, implementation, coordination, or decision not to implement the collection, surrender, or confiscation of affected firearms within Alberta"

9

u/pr0cyn1c 7h ago

""I am requesting all records"

Well fuck a duck, no wonder they want to charge you a shit tonne of cash son. ALL RECORDS. ffs.

-7

u/Mythic01 6h ago

"specifically regarding the planning, consideration, development, implementation, coordination, or decision not to implement".... How many records are there really, considering this is a program that is not being implemented in this province? How would you specifically limit the scope of this request to still paint a realistic picture of the government's culpability in the program not being executed in this province?

8

u/JAFOguy 6h ago

Generally, you take a bit more care in actually knowing what you are asking for. You need to actually know the right question before you get the right answer. Even if they gave you the entirety of the 12,000 pages of information you requested, you would have no idea where in those 12,000 pages you would find the information you want.

Do a bit more research and narrow down your question, and you will narrow down the search results to a manageable level.

You are entitled to ask for the information, but nothing is free.

3

u/pr0cyn1c 6h ago

"How many records are there really"
Good question. Maybe the 13 K is to ensure they 'found them all'.
But if you think they only have a few sheets of paper and could answer your question in a hot minute then maybe thats a question for Alberta's Information and Privacy Commissioner. Because wasting peoples time on suspicion is a good use of their time, right?

-8

u/Mythic01 6h ago

There are thousands of people who registered to participate in the ASFCP in Alberta. They're all being screwed by government bureaucracy. While they registered in good faith, the government will not process their applications due to internal red tape. Yes, I believe we are entitled to see the exact internal documentation outlining why.

5

u/cattabliss bc 6h ago

you are. just pay for it bro. i have filed many fois as part of my work.

in general, you need to know

- that a specific document exists, even better if you have the name of it, or who wrote it, or who it was sent to

- what is the most likely way to get at that document. which department is likely to hold the record? who's email inbox? some digging is required

- ask for the document

going in there with and any and all request is going to result in a bill. filing FOI is a skill.

4

u/pr0cyn1c 6h ago edited 6h ago

so if there are thousands, now you know why they want 13k. whats so fucking difficult to understand here?

Edit: ok dude you're giving me all sorts of "I have an extra copy of chromosome 21" vibes. good luck on your quest. l8r.

-2

u/Mythic01 6h ago

Thousands of applicants to a federal program which isn't happening in Alberta due to provincial barriers.

2

u/DropMeAnOrangeBeam 5h ago

You literally asked for everything they had regarding a topic. How much did you expect?

1

u/kookiemaster 4h ago

If you are interested in analysis then exclude emails and also exclude client sollicitor privilege (they will be redacted) and you might get a more reasonable volume. When you say all records it means all the emails no matter how insignificant (a meeting invite for example) and there may be 12 copies of it because everybody saved it. Narrowing to certain dates is another strategy.