Ethics, Privacy and Access to Information

PPAL 6120 3.0

Course Description

This course covers the basic principles of public sector ethics, and shows how the principles behind privacy and access to information legislation are derived from these ethical principles and are related to the basic principles of administrative law. Codes of ethics and ethics counselors are examined.

Course Directors: Ian Greene and Soren Frederiksen

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase three texts. The Greene & Shugarman text is a general overview of the ethics regimes for elected public officials in Canada. (Public servants need to understand these regimes in order to ensure that the elected officials that are at the top of the hierarchy do not encounter ethics problems because of mistakes of public servants or ministerial-exempt staff.) The Kernaghan and Langford text is an overview of the principles behind public service ethics and an analysis of their application. The Mullan text is a readable introduction to administrative law. In addition, there will be readings on privacy and access to information that will be available to students either in a course kit or on-line.

It is recommended that students read the first two texts prior to the first class, as well as the first eight chapters of the Mullan text. The texts are now available in the bookstore, and the bookstore link for on-line purchase will be available in a few days.

• Ian Greene & David Shugarman, Honest Politics (Toronto: Lorimer, 1997)

• Kenneth Kernaghan & John Langford, The Responsible Public Servant (Halifax: IRPP & IPAC, 2006)

• David Mullan, Administrative Law (Toronto: Irwin, 2001)

Link to Prof. Soren Frederiksen's web page

Course Outline

Sign-up sheet for readings, Tuesday class

Sign-up sheet for readings, Wednesday class

Greene's Powerpoint Presentations: