Justice minister asks officials to assist GTH in release of documents

Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice Don Morgan says the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) will comply with access-to-information laws.

Morgan said officials were sent "over to the GTHmake sure that they comply fully and deal with things in a proper expeditious manner."

This follows the provincial privacy commissioner's recent ruling recommending that the GTH comply withan access-to-informationrequest from 2017.

The GTHhas cited the potential for "negative media attention" as a reason for dragging its feet for almost a year on a series ofCBCaccess-to-information requests aboutmegamalldeveloperBrightenview.

Privacy commissionerRonKruzeniski said that this is inappropriate, in response to a complaint byCBC.

"The purpose ofFOIP(The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) would be defeated if information could be legitimately withheld simply because an applicant may publish information the applicant has received underFOIP," Kruzeniskiwrotein his 23-page decision.

"Individuals' rights underFOIPcannot be taken away based on what the individual may or may not do with the information."

Government not involved with individual access requests,says Morgan

Morgan, who is also the minister responsible for the GTH,said it is a "balancing act"in the handling of information. He said the the government should ensure commercially sensitive information is protected while also ensuring there is "maximum amount of openness, transparency and accountability."

Morgan said the ministry has expertsit can lean on to help ministries, crowns and agenciesfollow the legislation. He called access-to-information requests at the GTH an "ongoing issue."

"We don't as a government or as politicians get involved with what's in those requests or what the information is."

Morgan said the potential for negative publicity stemming fromanaccess-to-information request is not a reason to withhold information.

NDP asks to expand powers of privacy commissioner

The NDP's justice critic Nicole Sarauerhad been asking for the GTHto comply with the privacy commissioner's ruling.

"We need those documents released, the people of Saskatchewan need access to that information," Sarauer said.

The NDPhas also been advocating for expanding the powers of the privacy commissioner. Under Saskatchewan's current laws, the commissioner can only ask for regulations to be followed and make recommendations.

"We need the information and privacy commissioner to actually have some teeth to his regulations. The current process doesn't actually work," Sarauersaid.

She said under the current legislation, the onus is on individuals requesting information, not the government.

"The individual has to make that appeal to Queen's Bench which is costly and time consuming."

"Government has been and continues to hide information from the public, we've seen that with theGTHand we've seen that with the Husky oil spill," Sarauersaid.

Morgan said he has full confidence in the privacy commissioner and has "no immediate plans" to change the law to give him more power.