.
The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association is calling
for penalties to be imposed on the BC government for cases where
its deliberate cover-ups of embarrassing information amount to an
abuse of the freedom of information process.

Yesterday the Vancouver Sun reported that the BC government
spent 19 months claiming that a pamphlet promoting the HST was
‘advice to the minister’ and therefore would not be released
through FOI. The government finally released the documents to
The Sun on the eve of an inquiry to be held by BC’s Information
Commissioner.

In a letter to the requester sent the day before the scheduled hearing,
the government stated they still believe the pamphlet falls under the
FOI act’s section 13 exception for policy advice to the minister,
but they would exercise their discretion and release it.

FULL NEWS RELEASE Click Here

NEWS COVERAGE:
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun Click Here and Click Here

Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun Click Here

Victoria Times Colonist Editorial Click Here

ALL NEWS COVERAGE Click Here

To view the government pamphlet Click Here