The High Costs of Costs: Fees as Barriers to Access within the United States and Canadian Freedom of Information Régimes

Authors

Zachary Pall, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The article argues that the fee structures under the United States Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Canadian Access to Information Act create significant barriers to accessing government records, undermining the principle of transparency. While both systems aim to balance access with resource management, the U.S. system is particularly criticized for its complexity and inefficiency, which discourages requesters and fails to serve the public interest. The Canadian system, though flawed, offers a more streamlined approach that could provide valuable lessons for reforming the U.S. system.

Disciplines

Administrative Law | Human Rights Law | International Law | Law

Recommended Citation

Zachary Pall, The High Costs of Costs: Fees as Barriers to Access within the United States and Canadian Freedom of Information Régimes, 7 Cardozo Pub. L. Pol’y & Ethics J. 599 (2009).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cplpej/vol7/iss3/4