How open is the new federal government?

The new federal government has signalled that it will create a less hostile relationship with the media than the previous government. 

During the election campaign, Justin Trudeau criticized a Liberal Party supporter for heckling a journalist, saying: "We have respect for journalists in this country; they ask tough questions and they're supposed to".  Despite the optimism of that moment, VICE parliamentary reporter Justin Ling says there's early evidence that the government is moving away from openness by limiting reporters' access to the third floor hallway outside of cabinet in the House of Commons.

It's not like we're jumping them in a dark alley and holding them up with a microphone. And frankly, it's fruitful because it makes sure no minister can duck the public — and media, by way of the public.- Justin Ling

But one former politician says that while Canadians say they want an open government, we don't always act that way.

Geoff Plant was B.C.'s Attorney General from 2001 to 2005. He recently wrote about an incident where the B.C. government asked for public input on a proposed new high school curriculum, only to get scathing criticism in return. He says Canadians need to demonstrate they deserve an open government. 

You wake up the next morning thinking, 'Gee, someone is going to have written about how we've actually improved the quality of our government'... Instead, the headline was some version of 'BC Liberals are sharply divided'. So what's the prize for daring to do the things you have to do, if you want an open government?- Geoff Plant

Click the blue button above to listen to the full interview.