FOIPP Eating FOIPP’s Tail

In February I made a written submission to government on its Modernize the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act paper.

Today I received a letter requesting my views on releasing my submission, itself now a subject of a Freedom of Information request:

The Department of Justice and Public Safety has received this request under the Act:

  • “All input submitted during the public consultations on the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act from November 2, 2017 to March 31, 2018”

We are considering disclosing records that pertain to your business. A copy of the information is attached to this letter. We would appreciate your views regarding disclosure of this information.

My reply was simply:

I have no objection to my submission being released.

It is already public and online at:

https://ruk.ca/content/modernize-freedom-information-and-protection-privacy-act

I assume that my reply is now itself a record subject to future FOIPP requests. So the tail can again eat itself in another round.

Detail from the PDF Ietter I received requesting my views.

Comments

Andrew Morrow's picture
Andrew Morrow on June 20, 2018 - 14:52 Permalink

The concept of what should be freely available is of course relative to the situation.
I am President of a Rural Fire Company that serves a number of municipalities and a Fire District. Each pays fire dues on the basis of Provincial Tax assessments on properties and the Department of Finance collects the dues along with the municipal taxes and remits our share to us monthly. It is a wonderful arrangement for us and the municipalities.
What is missing is the ability to predict and verify income. Each of the municipal entities gets a preliminary assessment statement to allow them to budget and a year end statement which shows adjustments during the year. As a "bought service" in the eyes of Finance we must ask the municipalities for the information since the Province does not see themselves as party to the agreement though the Municipalities Act specifies that all municipalities must provide fire protection to their residents. We must hold our Annual Meeting before the municipalities hold their meetings to approve their budget. The Finance figures have been available just barely in time for the municipal meetings. The FOIPP legislantion only aplies to the Charlottetown, Summerside and Stratford so far.
Government does not even want to be helpful in this process let alone belive in accountability on the basis of free information.