An investigation has found the premier’s office violated Nova Scotia’s privacy law when former chief of staff Kirby McVicar released details about MLA Andrew Younger’s personal health information.
The report, written by the province’s privacy commissioner, Catherine Tully, recommends changes to modernize and strengthen the office’s privacy standards.
“The actual personal information disclosed was highly sensitive personal health information. In my view, providing specific medical diagnoses was more information than was strictly necessary in the circumstances,” Tully said in a release.
The investigation revealed that the political staff in the premier’s office hadn’t received any privacy training, hadn’t read the privacy policy and didn’t know who the privacy lead was within the office.
WATCH: Premier Stephen McNeil responds to privacy commissioner’s report.
These shortcomings, paired with public pressure for accountability over the Younger scandal, lead to the breach of information, Tully said.
READ MORE: ‘Dealt with’: Premier accepts McVicar’s resignation
Tully gives the office six recommendations, the most important being appointing a chief privacy officer.
“Modern privacy controls begin with strong leadership,” she said.
“Having a Chief Privacy Officer at a sufficiently influential level in an organization sends the message that privacy is important and is an essential consideration in all decisions involving personal information.”
During the investigation, the Privacy Commissioner’s office learned that steps were already underway to improve privacy standards in the office.
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