As part of the celebrations for Right to Know (RTK) Week running Sept. 22-28, the provincial Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Office of Public Engagement are launching the fourth RTK Week Essay Competition. Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic are co-sponsoring the competition.

The purpose of RTK Week is to raise awareness of everyone’s right to access government information, while promoting freedom of information as essential to both democracy and good governance.

The RTK Week Essay Competition helps further this purpose, particularly among secondary and post-secondary students. For the 2014 competition, entrants are asked to write on the timely topic of Open Government.

In 2014 the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launched its Open Government Initiative, joining other governments across Canada and around the world in committing to principles of transparency, accountability, participation and collaboration. In reflecting upon this development, students are asked to address the question: What does open government mean to you?

The winning essay writer in this year’s competition will be awarded a prize valued at $500, with the second and third place prizes valued at $200 and $100, respectively. In addition to cash awards, the winning essays and names of the winners may also be published on the websites or promotional material of the co-sponsoring organizations. Award-winning essays are chosen anonymously by a panel of judges representing and comprised of the organizations involved.

This contest is open to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians studying at the secondary or post-secondary level, as well as non-residents studying at Newfoundland and Labrador secondary and post-secondary institutions. Entries are to be a maximum of 1,000 words, and must be submitted directly to the Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner via email at commissioner@oipc.nl.ca  or at the following address, postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2014: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, P.O. Box 13004, Station A, St. John’s, N.L., A1B 3V8.

For full contest details and restrictions, please see the OIPC website at www.oipc.nl.ca.