BC Liberals betray FOI promises
November 6th, 2008 12:00am
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EDITORIAL
THE TIMES COLONIST
B.C. Children's Minister Tom Christensen says the government's attempt to evade freedom-of-information laws and conceal damaging information about inadequate support for children who have been sexually abused was an understandable mistake.
That is rubbish. The censorship, as in so many similar cases, was a violation of the government's claimed commitment to openness and transparency. The ministry broke the letter and spirit of freedom-of-information legislation, Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis ruled this week.
Any reasonable observer would conclude the aim was to protect the political interests of the ministry, at the expense of an informed debate on inadequate help for little boys and girls who had been sexually abused.
FULL EDITORIAL: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=41a9d094-d8c1-4dbd-a8a2-4c6affda612f
COMMISSIONER'S ORDER (pdf): Click Here
EDITORIAL
THE TIMES COLONIST
B.C. Children's Minister Tom Christensen says the government's attempt to evade freedom-of-information laws and conceal damaging information about inadequate support for children who have been sexually abused was an understandable mistake.
That is rubbish. The censorship, as in so many similar cases, was a violation of the government's claimed commitment to openness and transparency. The ministry broke the letter and spirit of freedom-of-information legislation, Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis ruled this week.
Any reasonable observer would conclude the aim was to protect the political interests of the ministry, at the expense of an informed debate on inadequate help for little boys and girls who had been sexually abused.
FULL EDITORIAL: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=41a9d094-d8c1-4dbd-a8a2-4c6affda612f
COMMISSIONER'S ORDER (pdf): Click Here
