User:Siobhanquigg/sandbox

Article Evaluation
The Freedom of information in Canada wikipedia page is part of Wikiproject Canada and is rated C-Class and of mid-importance. While the article provides a useful overview of the history and federal and provincial application of freedom of information legislation in Canada, the article lacks content and organization. The article primarily references media articles from 2012 or earlier and a few government sources. Media sources often contain bias and the time period of the sources suggests that the article may be outdated. The article would be enriched by the inclusion of up to date and peer-reviewed sources. Moreover, not all information is cited. For instance, the article states a task force launched by the Treasury Board declared that there was "a crisis in information management", but this direct quote is not formally cited. Many of the original citations links lead to error messages. However, an editor in the "Talk" noted that they had corrected many of the links with archived versions of the sources. This relates to issues of html permanency that were discussed in the INFO 6300 Week 2 class.

This article would be improved by expanding the subheadings to include citizen engagement related to access to information, such as academic opinions. As it is, these perspectives are lumped into the "History" heading. For example, the summary of Donald Savoie's book Breaking the Bargain in the "History" section is distracting and strangely placed. Savoie argues that Canadian government prevents topics from entering public discourse by avoiding writing about them. While there may be truth in Savoie's argument, this seems like an oversimplification that is not directly related to the history of the freedom of information in Canada. I think the argument should be explained in more detail under a different heading.

Overall, this article is a good starting point for learning about freedom of information in class. However, it would benefit from elaboration, added content, and increased diversity in sources.

= Assignment 3 Planning =

Potential Topics
1. Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) is currently a Stub- Class article rated as high-importance. It is difficult to develop a wikipedia page for ISED because it has such a broad and diverse scope. However, I believe I can add to the page by providing historical context, current mandates, and tangible examples of ISED's involvement in Canadian government.

2. The Politics of the Northwest Territories (NWT) is also a Stub-Class article rated as high-importance. Again, I feel that this article could benefit from historical context. While the article briefly describes the consensus government that operates in NWT, it does not describe the various perspectives and criticisms that surround consensus government in the NWT.

Selection
For Assignment 3, I have chosen to contribute to and enhance the existing ISED article. As I stated in the "Potential Topics" section, I will add historical context, current mandates, and examples of ISED's role within the wider federal government.

History
The Department of Trade and Commerce was created in statue on June 23rd, 1887 and proclaimed into force on December 3, 1892. In 1969 the Department of Trade and Commerce was replaced by the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce. In 1990, Industry, Science and Technology replaced Industry, Trade and Commerce. This new department also absorbed the offices of the the Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion and Minister of State for Science and Technology. This marked the inclusion of regional approaches and scientific emphasis in the development of Canadian industries. In 1993, the department expanded its portfolio further to include Consumer and Corporate Affairs. In March 1995, the department was renamed Industry Canada. Upon the November 2015 installation of the 29th Canadian Ministry led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the position of Minister of Industry was re-named Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development. Subsequently Industry Canada was re-named Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The Department headquarters are located at the C.D. Howe Building at 235 Queen Street in Ottawa, Ontario.



Officials and structure

 * Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development: Navdeep Bains

The current general mandate for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development is to "help Canadian businesses grow, innovation and export so that they can create good quality jobs and wealth for Canadians." The Ministers' role is to work towards this mandate in collaboration with other Canadian governments among other partners. In particular, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development will work with the Minister of Science and the Minister of Small Business and Tourism. In this team, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development acts as a leader.


 * Minister of Science: Kirsty Duncan

The current general goal for the Minister of Science is to "support scientific research and the integration of scientific considerations in our investment and policy choices." The Minister must work with other ministers to support science-based decision-making that furthers wider governmental economic and environmental mandates.


 * Minister of Small Business and Tourism: Bardish Chagger

The current general goal for the Minister of Small Business and Tourism is to "help small businesses grow through trade and innovation, and to promote increased tourism in Canada" The Minister must collaborate with other ministers to develop tax and trade strategies that support this goal. Additionally, the Minister must work with other governments to ensure programs and services for small businesses are accessible.

Portfolio
ISED oversees seventeen departments and agencies and is associated with an additional six organizations. Each of these organizations are related to one or more of the four focus areas of ISED: i) innovation in science and technology ii) trade and investment iii) growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) iv) economic growth of Canadian communities.

ISED oversees the following organizations:


 * Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
 * Business Development Bank of Canada
 * Canadian Intellectual Property Office
 * Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
 * Canadian Space Agency
 * Copyright Board of Canada
 * Communications Research Centre Canada
 * Competition Tribunal
 * Destination Canada
 * Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
 * Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
 * Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
 * Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
 * National Research Council
 * Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
 * Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
 * Standards Council of Canada
 * Statistics Canada
 * Western Economic Diversification Canada

ISED is associated with the following organizations:


 * Canada Foundation for Innovation
 * Council of Canadian Academies
 * Genome Canada
 * Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation
 * Science, Technology and Innovation Council
 * Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Related Legislation
The departmental legislation for ISED is the Department of Industry Act. The Act states that the Minister of ISED's objective is to use their role in order to "strengthen the national economy and promote sustainable development." The Act also outlines a number of supporting objectives. The Minister must also use their position to support domestic trade and support a healthy marketplace through investment and technology.

In addition to the departmental legislation, ISED is also responsible for various legislation related to economic development, including: telecommunication legislation, marketplace and trade legislation, intellectual property legislation, consumer legislation, and other legislation governing general functions and agencies.

Certifications and approvals

 * Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) for Category I radio and broadcasting equipment