Justice Minister John Hogan says recent changes within government to Access to Information and Protection of Privacy functions are to help address a “significant increase” in requests being received.

Last week, Minister John Hogan was quietly sworn in as the minister responsible for the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

Hogan says the move to consolidate ATIPP under the Office of the Executive Council was announced in the 2023 budget, along with increased funding to the tune of $2 million.

As a result, the office no longer sits under the Department of Justice and Public Safety.

He says they are still working through implementation details, there are no changes at this time for any current employees, and no positions will be eliminated.

Hogan asserts that this is not a cost cutting measure, but rather moves to “contribute to greater sharing of information with consistency and transparency.”