Privacy Commissioner should have power to order release of documents: NDP

The Sask. Party has fought tooth and nail to ensure information about the GTH is kept from Saskatchewan people. They have been asked by the Information and Privacy Commissioner to release public documents that they claim would shed unfavourable light or bring “negative media attention” to this dubious project. However, the Commissioner’s request has been dismissed and the minister responsible for the GTH isn’t in a hurry to press this issue.

“If the Commissioner had the power to order documents be released, this would not be an issue,” said NDP Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer. “The Information and Privacy Commissioner should have the final say when it comes to the release of public documents. Commissioners in other provinces have this power. Why not Saskatchewan?”

Several provinces, including Alberta and B.C., allow their information commissioners to order the government to produce records. The Sask. Party member for Meadow Lake even recommended this when he was running to become premier. He said he would “reverse the onus in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to require disclosure on the recommendation of the Commissioner.”

“After the campaign bluster has died down, we’ve heard nothing more about this from the Sask. Party,” said Sarauer. “The minister responsible should make this a top priority. The people of Saskatchewan deserve to know the whole story when millions of their dollars are being wasted.”

Latest posts

Undergraduate Students In Saskatchewan Are Paying The Second-Highest Tuition Canada 
REGINA – Today, as a new post-secondary school year begins, Carla Beck's team is standing alongside students to call out the extreme cost of tuition in Saskatchewan after 20 years of this Sask. Party mismanagement and failure to fund post-secondary. 

Carla Beck’s Team Calls On Local MLAs To Stand Up To Premier, Education Minister & Demand Answers 
PRINCE ALBERT— As Scott Moe and his Education Minister stand behind a decision to completely withhold information on the state of Saskatchewan schools, Carla Beck’s team is calling out Sask. Party MLAs in Prince Albert to demand transparency for the families they were elected to represent. 
Wednesday Marks First Day Of School For Many Saskatchewan Students 
SASKATOON — Saskatchewan families and school divisions deserve answers about the condition of their schools, but the Sask. Party government has once again chosen secrecy over transparency, returning 160 blank pages in response to a Freedom of Information request seeking information about the state of school buildings across Saskatchewan. 

Sask. Party Awards Contracts To Two Out-Of-Province Companies Even In Face Of Massive Costs For Consumers, Widespread Pushback 
REGINA – Despite an avalanche of public outrage against Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison's coal catastrophe, the Sask. Party government is pressing ahead.  While every independent report, and their own appointed Rate Review Panel, have made clear that their coal plan is the most expensive and highest risk option, Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison are ploughing ahead.  

Share this post