BC Government's fight to keep secrets wastes your money
June 24th, 2010 12:00am
Les Leyne
Times Colonist
June 22, 2010
When the representative for children and youth went to court last month during an argument over access to cabinet documents, Children's Minister Mary Polak condemned the move.
She expressed dismay about the "unfortunate waste of scarce resources." The representative, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, was portrayed as wasting taxpayers' money on an expensive, unnecessary court hearing.
"She feels she needs to pursue this in court," said Polak. "We disagree."
But when it comes to wasting money on lawyers, there's another example that's worth examining. In this one, it's the government that's going to court, for questionable reasons.
And if you're looking for an "unfortunate waste of scarce resources," this case seems to fit the bill a lot better than the representative's case – which she won overwhelmingly.
A B.C. Supreme Court hearing started yesterday into the government's appeal of a decision by the information and privacy commissioner. That decision ordered it to disclose some rather obscure information from some even more obscure committees from several years ago.
The case arises from a request independent Vancouver reporter Stanley Tromp made six years ago – in August 2004 – for information about government caucus committees.
The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association joined the battle on Tromp's behalf. Today both sides will appear before a justice in Victoria to argue some more...
LINK to complete article Click here
Times Colonist
June 22, 2010
When the representative for children and youth went to court last month during an argument over access to cabinet documents, Children's Minister Mary Polak condemned the move.
She expressed dismay about the "unfortunate waste of scarce resources." The representative, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, was portrayed as wasting taxpayers' money on an expensive, unnecessary court hearing.
"She feels she needs to pursue this in court," said Polak. "We disagree."
But when it comes to wasting money on lawyers, there's another example that's worth examining. In this one, it's the government that's going to court, for questionable reasons.
And if you're looking for an "unfortunate waste of scarce resources," this case seems to fit the bill a lot better than the representative's case – which she won overwhelmingly.
A B.C. Supreme Court hearing started yesterday into the government's appeal of a decision by the information and privacy commissioner. That decision ordered it to disclose some rather obscure information from some even more obscure committees from several years ago.
The case arises from a request independent Vancouver reporter Stanley Tromp made six years ago – in August 2004 – for information about government caucus committees.
The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association joined the battle on Tromp's behalf. Today both sides will appear before a justice in Victoria to argue some more...
LINK to complete article Click here
