IRB Inc. Publication Program
Many reports arising from the IRB Inc. research program have their origins in research undertaken prior to the start of the publications program. As a result, it is appropriate to begin the publications page by Section A, which provides links to a selection of background productions for orientation purposes.
The page then provides links to publications produced as part of the IRB Inc. research program, 2019-present, as follows:
- Section B, new reports;
- Section C, special reports; and
- Section D, reports on topics that involve pilot studies and other kinds of studies of an extended nature leading to multiple productions.
Section A. Background Productions
A number of publications pertinent to the creation and mission of the Information Research Board (IRB) Inc. are posted on various websites, including Wellar Consulting Inc., Slideshare, and URISA. Links to selected publications are included here for readers wishing to have an overview of investigations behind the derivation and direction of the IRB Inc. research and publications programs.
- Geospatial Today: Issues in GIS data sharing
- Five Core Questions on Rail Safety
- Comments on 'GIS and GeoSkills: New Ways to Achieve New Evidence for Better Decisions'
- Analysis of Responses to Questions, Questions, and More Questions about Ottawa's LRT Plan, 2009 Edition
- Thoughts about Creating New Risk Assessment Paradigms to Demonstrate How Geographic Factors Affect the Human Impacts of Natural Disaster
- An Opinion as to the Extent to which the Decisions by Cabinet to Terminate The Northlander and Divest the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Are Based Upon, Supported By, Justified By, or Are Otherwise Derived from Methodologically Sound Research
- ONR-ONTC Research Task Force Interim Report 1: Requests for Details About and Access to Studies Behind the Decisions to Terminate The Northlander and Divest the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
- Best Practices Framework Needed for Sustainable Transit in Ottawa
- Speed Limits and Road Safety: Examples of Questions to Ask to Ensure the Safety of Pedestrians
- Two Questions that "Test" Passenger Rail Service Decisions Anywhere in Canada
- Enriching Sustainable Transport Decisions: Inputs from Operations Research and the Management Sciences
- Celebrating Foundations of Urban and Regional Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems and Science
- Standard of Care and E-Democracy Initiatives: Policy and Legislative Impacts
Section B. New Reports
The primary landing place for all IRB reports is Section C or Section D, but Section B serves the purpose of providing a quick answer to the question, ‘What’s new?” As a rule, the intention is to limit entries in Section B to the latest productions, with emphasis on signalling recent and current research activities.
- Interim Report 25. City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, 2022-2026: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the City of Ottawa? Survey #2
- Using GIS to Enhance the Value of Speed Display Board Data: City of Ottawa Case Study Part 1
- Interim Report 24. Survey Says Citizens Should Ask MPs Hard Questions About the Access to Information Act (ATIA) Review Process
- BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS FOR CITIZENS’ ACCESS TO SPATIAL RECORDS HELD BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (Presentation Slides)
- Contributions by City of Ottawa Council to Best Practice Standards for Citizens’ Access to Spatial Records Held by Local Governments
- Thoughts on adding geo-records to the pilot study on best practices for citizen access to public records (Presentation Slides)
- Did Anti-Freedom Acts in Downtown Ottawa Cause the Wheels to Totally Fall off the So-called 'Freedom' Convoy?
- REPORT 4: Findings and Implications of Responses from Speakers to the Survey on 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies
- AN OPEN LETTER TO CHANDRA ARYA, MP (LIB-NEPEAN) ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS OF CANADA’S RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS HORROR
- CRITIQUING SPREADERS of the MISINFORMATION PANDEMIC: BROADCAST NEWS MEDIA – NEWSPAPERS
- Response to Notice about Consultation and Survey: Strengthening Accountability for Municipal Council Members
- Slides for the Friday Lunch Discussion Club (FLDC) Presentation: HOW GEOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXPOSE the MYTH of 'MISINFORMATION'
- Using the Powers of Geographic Information and GIS to Expose the Myth of 'Misinformation'
Section C. Special Reports
- Did Anti-Freedom Acts in Downtown Ottawa Cause the Wheels to Totally Fall off the So-called 'Freedom' Convoy?
- REPORT 4: Findings and Implications of Responses from Speakers to the Survey on 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies
- AN OPEN LETTER TO CHANDRA ARYA, MP (LIB-NEPEAN) ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS OF CANADA’S RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS HORROR
- CRITIQUING SPREADERS of the MISINFORMATION PANDEMIC: BROADCAST NEWS MEDIA – NEWSPAPERS
- Response to Notice about Consultation and Survey: Strengthening Accountability for Municipal Council Members
- Slides for the Friday Lunch Discussion Club (FLDC) Presentation: HOW GEOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXPOSE the MYTH of 'MISINFORMATION'
- Initial Thoughts about 'Fauxinfo' as an Antidote to the 'Misinformation' Pandemic
- The Inescapable Truth about Disinformation and Misinformation? They have NOTHING at all to do with Information
- DOES DONALD TRUMP HAVE THE KNOW-HOW TO SAVE THE U.S.A.?
- Slides for the Closing Presentation: 2019 GIS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, URBAN AND REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION
- Using GIS to Enhance the Value of Speed Display Board Data: City of Ottawa Case Study Part 1
- Using GIS to Enhance the Value of Speed Display Board Data: City of Ottawa Case Study Part 2
Section D. Pilot Study Reports
Reports in this section present the results of pilot study investigations that may be of several years’ duration. The first notice of publication on a possible pilot study topic will appear in Section B, New Reports. The initial investigation with its emphasis on research questions, research issues, research design, research precedents, etc., generally serves a pre-test function, and may morph into a pilot study. However, if prior research has already been undertaken, such as that identified in Section A, Background Productions, then the research program will proceed on the basis that the research design is that of a pilot study.
To date, three pilot study projects have been launched. Links to the pilot study lead and investigative reports are as follows.
I. Transparency and Accountability Project
Publications from this investigation into the state of public access to public records in Canada include interim reports, as well as a final report.
- Chronicling the Use of Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring the Standard of Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice
- Interim Report 1. Using Interim Reports as Part of the Pilot Study Research Design
- Interim Report 2. Responses of City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors to the Question: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the City of Ottawa?
- Interim Report 3. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada Is Best Practice, Ottawa Council Score: Political Buzzwords, 87.5%; Drivers, 12.5%
- Interim Report 4. Responses of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Selected Cabinet Ministers, and MP Arya Chandra (Lib.- Nepean) to the Question: Do You Agree that Citizens are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the Government of Canada?
- Interim Report 5. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice, Federal Cabinet Score: Political Buzzwords, 100%; Drivers, 0%
- Interim Report 6. Responses of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Selected Cabinet Ministers to the Question: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by Municipal Governments in Ontario?
- Interim Report 7. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice, Ontario Cabinet Score: Political Buzzwords, 100%; Drivers, 0%
- Interim Report 8. Second Survey Asking City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, Do you agree that citizens are entitled to free, easy, timely, and direct online access to the public records held by the City of Ottawa?
- Interim Report 9. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice: Ottawa Council Rating after the Second Citizen Access Survey–Political Buzzwords, 79%; Drivers, 21%
- Interim Report 10. Second Survey Asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Selected Cabinet Ministers, and MP Arya Chandra (Lib.- Nepean): Do You Agree that Citizens are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the Government of Canada?
- Interim Report 11. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada Is Best Practice: Federal Cabinet Score after Second Survey -- Political Buzzwords, 100%; Drivers, 0%
- Interim Report 12. Second Survey of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Selected Cabinet Ministers: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by Municipal Governments in Ontario?
- Interim Report 13. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice, Ontario Cabinet Score, Second Survey: Political Buzzwords, 100%; Drivers, 0%
- Interim Report 14. Asking the Question: Is Freedom of Information Legislation a Citizens’ Conduit to Public Records, or an Institutional Barrier to Public Records?
- Interim Report 15. Identifying Tactics Used By Politicians to Restrict Citizens' Access to Public Records
- Interim Report 16. Third Survey Asking City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, Do you agree that citizens are entitled to free, easy, timely, and direct online access to the public records held by the City of Ottawa?
- Interim Report 17. Using Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice: Ottawa Council Rating after the Third Citizen Access Survey–Political Buzzwords, 79%; Drivers, 21%
- Interim Report 18. Invoking the Code of Conduct to Publicly Oblige City of Ottawa Politicians to Demonstrate Due Regard for Transparency and Accountability
- Interim Report 19. Nomination for the 2020 Code of Silence Award: City of Ottawa Supporting Evidence – Reports from the Pilot Study Chronicling the Use of Transparency and Accountability as Political Buzzwords, and as Drivers Ensuring the Standard of Access to Public Records in Canada is Best Practice
- Interim Report 20. Nomination for the 2020 Code of Silence Award: City of Ottawa Supporting Evidence – Communications to Mayor and Councillors that Received ‘The Silent Treatment’
- Interim Report 21. Nomination for the 2020 Code of Silence Award: City of Ottawa Supporting Evidence – Media Stories That Indicate a Code of Silence Has Been Adopted by Members of Council
- Interim Report 22. City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, 2022-2026: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the City of Ottawa? Survey #1
- Interim Report 23. Analysis and Implications of Survey #1, City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, 2022-2026: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the City of Ottawa?
- Thoughts on adding geo-records to the pilot study on best practices for citizen access to public records (Presentation Slides)
- Contributions by City of Ottawa Council to Best Practice Standards for Citizens’ Access to Spatial Records Held by Local Governments
- Panel Discussion: Best Practice Standards for Citizens’ Access to Spatial Records Held by Local Governments
- BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS FOR CITIZENS’ ACCESS TO SPATIAL RECORDS HELD BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (Presentation Slides)
- Interim Report 24. Survey Says Citizens Should Ask MPs Hard Questions About the Access to Information Act (ATIA) Review Process
- Interim Report 25. City of Ottawa Mayor and Councillors, 2022-2026: Do You Agree that Citizens Are Entitled to Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to the Public Records Held by the City of Ottawa? Survey #2
II. Police Reform Project
Publications from this investigation into the need for police reform include interim reports, as well as a final report. Consistent with the pillars that define the purpose of the Information Research Board, the focus of this investigation is on citizens having free, easy, timely, and direct online access to police service records, and those of Ottawa Police Service in particular.
- Investigating the Need for Structural and Functional Reform of Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa Police Services Board
- How Does Ottawa Council Ensure that a Police Reform Initiative Primarily Serves the Interests of Citizens?
- How Does Ottawa Council Ensure that Citizens Have Free, Easy, Timely, and Direct Online Access to Ottawa Police Service Records?
- How Will Council Ensure that Citizens Have Access to Records Which Define the Need to Reform the Ottawa Police Service?
- Does Access to Police Records Affect the Ability of Citizens to Decide on the Need to Reform Ottawa Police Service?
- Results from Asking City of Ottawa Politicians, "How Do You Suggest Improving Citizens' Access to Ottawa Police Service Records?"
- Summary of Survey Results Asking City of Ottawa Politicians about Improving Citizens' Access to Ottawa Police Service Records
- Analysis of Survey Results Asking City of Ottawa Politicians about Improving Citizens' Access to Ottawa Police Service Records
III. Rulings by Canada’s Legislative Assembly Speakers on ‘Misinformation’
This project is a follow-on to the Special Report, The inescapable Truth about Disinformation and Misinformation? They have NOTHING at all to do with Information.
As a result of the term ‘misinformation’ being the subject of a ruling in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, the IRB Inc. research program was modified to accommodate the pilot study, Investigating the Rulings on ‘Misinformation’ in Canada’s Legislative Assemblies.
- REPORT 1: Terms of Reference for a Survey of Speakers about 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies
- REPORT 2: Survey of Speakers about 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies
- REPORT 3: Responses from Speakers to the Survey on 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies
- REPORT 4: Findings and Implications of Responses from Speakers to the Survey on 'Misinformation' Rulings in Canada's Legislative Assemblies