The reviews are in

The National Post on the Cons' suppression of information:

One hopes the fact that the content of the documents has been a mere footnote to this story would convince people in Mr. Togneri's position that not disclosing mildly embarrassing information is more fraught with peril than disclosing it. But the inescapable, disturbing question remains: To what lengths would the government go to suppress truly damning information?

It's hardly a partisan concern. Were it not for the Access to Information Act, John Gomery might be best known as president of the Copyright Board of Canada.

The government has made vaguely reassuring noises. "Due diligence [on Access to Information requests] is and should be done by public servants and not political staff," Dimitri Soudas, Mr. Harper's spokesman, told The Canadian Press. "The process ... should be followed and respected by all ... It applies to everybody across government (including) political offices." Sadly, there's little reason to believe he means it. Asked whether ministers had been explicitly told not to meddle, or if the staff involved would face sanctions, he replied: "I don't comment on internal matters."

These aren't "internal matters." Not even close. The Information Commissioner should launch an investigation into just how pervasive this practice has become. And the government must realize that it has no claim of ownership to information about its activities. (Even routine, innocuous government reports are often only available by contacting a media relations officer, who will then duly email documents that could just as easily have been posted on a departmental website.) That information belongs to Canadians.