The B.C. government has launched new websites giving the public access to databases and documents produced for freedom-of-information requests.

The websites are part of the province's so-called open-government strategy, with the premier promising a new culture of openness and accountability that will see the program expand over time.

An open-data website includes nearly 2,500 databases, all available for download in digital formats that can be easily analysed. They include everything from birth rates and cancer statistics to detailed budget figures.

The second website will feature freedom-of-information requests — documents such as audits and internal communications released to members of the public, journalists and political parties — but only after they've been available to the requestor for three days.

"We're spending people's money, we're making decisions on behalf of people who've entrusted us with their money and information, and I think we have an obligation to make sure that as much of that information is available to the public," Premier Christy Clark said Monday following the web launch.

"This is very much a work-in-progress."

'Data dumping'

Clark said the new websites are part of a new culture of openness.

"Previously, I think governments have sort of assumed that other people's information belongs to us and we get to interpret it and disseminate it to people and I don't think that's right," she said. "I think the information belongs to the public."

However, the latest commitment to open government is getting mixed reviews.

Information and privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham praised the websites, but cautioned there's still work to do.

Denham said she still wants the government to produce more documents, such as contracts and program audits.

New Democrat MLA Doug Routley criticized the move, saying most of that information is already available.

"It amounts to data dumping," he said. "You won't find any information on the … HST and when they knew what they knew and when they were planning what they did."

The government said it will expand the types of information included on the websites in the future, but it hasn't specified what will be added.