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

SASK. PARTY SKIPS IMPORTANT FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS FRANCOPHONE ECONOMY

Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister Says Government Continues To Fail Francophone Community
 
REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP is decrying a decision by the Sask. Party Government to have all its elected members skip a critical federal-provincial meeting last month that focused on developing the Francophone economy.

SASK. PARTY FAILS TO DELIVER ON URGENT CARE PROMISE IN REGINA, PATIENTS SUFFER DUE TO WIDESPREAD HEALTHCARE FAILURES

Government Promises Additional Urgent Care Centres While Failing To Deliver On The One That’s Actually Open
 
REGINA  – The Sask. Party has again failed to deliver on a major healthcare promise, leaving patents to suffer, says the Saskatchewan NDP.

SASKATCHEWAN NDP DEMANDS CHILDCARE DEAL AS REPORT WARNS HUNDREDS OF SPACES COULD BE LOST SOON

Childcare Crisis Making Life Less Affordable, Harming Economy: Pratchler
REGINA -The Saskatchewan NDP says a recent survey of daycare operators in the province found that hundreds of childcare spaces could be lost because of the Sask. Party’s delay in signing the federal $10-a-day childcare agreement. Saskatchewan remains one of just two jurisdictions in Canada yet to finalize the deal with Ottawa.

Share this post