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ABOUT THIS SITE
For those visiting and using this web site (now updated to December, 2024), I hope it is informative and of assistance. I start by providing the investigative research services I offer and examples of work done in uncovering government secrets, along with describing needed FOI/RTI changes. Then I delve into details about my extensive past advocacy work. That includes listing more recent articles and advocacy grants. Gaining access to information and changing the culture of secrecy is still a challenge we can all take up!
Ken Rubin
ABOUT KEN RUBIN
Ken Rubin is an Ottawa-based public interest researcher, a citizens’ advocate, an author, a civil libertarian, and an organic farmer. He is a well known commentator on the right to information (RTI) and secrecy practices in Canada.
He has filed and analyzed thousands of requests for public and personal information. His work has resulted in hundreds of media stories. He has written and published many articles and reports on government secrecy and privacy and surveillance practices. He has acted as an access consultant to a variety of media, public interest groups, political parties, labour unions, research groups, trade associations, and individuals.
Many of his Federal Court actions for freedom of information/ right to information are referred to as benchmark cases. He has helped promote improvements in freedom of information and privacy protection legislation in Canada, including amending the federal access act to penalize officials for record alteration violations. He has appeared before several parliamentary committees and is a columnist for the Hill Times.
For over 50 years, he has been involved in a wide range of regional and national public actions that include food and air safety, health and environmental protection issues and telecommunications.
“Ken is almost certainly the most well-known user and advocate of the access system in Canada, and he has spent close to 60 years in the field – first by pushing for FOI to become law at the federal level, and then, once that came to pass, by using that same law to extract documents and data from public bodies.”
Tom Cardoso, Globe and Mail reporter, Secret Canada project, June 7, 2023
“Ken Rubin is an extremely effective, discrete and diligent ally in efforts to illuminate the state of consumer protection in Canada. His research has confirmed PIAC’s hunches and given us unexpected insights. Ken is simply the best ATI resource in Canada.”
John Lawford, Executive Director, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, December 2, 2018
“Thanks for showing us the way.”
Kevin Page Former Parliamentary Budget Officer October 6, 2015
“Ken is a pioneer in the use of the access-to-information law to uncover truth and facts about how government operates. He has blazed a trail that many others have followed.”
Steven Chase, Globe and Mail national correspondent August 19, 2015
“Mr. Rubin has been a government gadfly for more than three decades…he has been a frequent source of blockbuster stories …having extracted embarrassing documents from reluctant departments.. he is an unmatched resource because of his historical knowledge of the field of freedom of information and because of his insider’s knowledge of many battles with bureaucrats… he has stuck to his profession and principles through thick and thin for many years.”
Dean Beeby, Deputy Bureau Chief, Canadian Press, January 10, 2011
“Mr. Rubin is well known as an advocate of public interest issues, and government may very well agree that some of his work is useful, but may find him a pain in the neck in other instances.”
May 17, 1984 (Perrin Beatty Co-Chair, House of Commons-Senate Regulations and Other Statutory Instruments Joint Committee)
Awards recognizing my advocacy work:
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s Investigative Award;
CJFE Award Speech
Grace-Pepin Access to Information Award
British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) Information Rights Award
FIPA Award Speech/FOI Reflections
