Alberta government wants your input on its privacy act

EDMONTON – For the second time in three years, the Alberta government is reviewing the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act, which is aimed at balancing freedom of information with the protection of privacy.

So just how much control should you have over your information? And how much information about the government should Albertans have? Associate Minister Donald Scott is making ten stops across the province over the next six weeks in hopes of finding out what Albertans think.

“The FOIP act affects every Albertan because every Albertan has an interest in privacy,” he says. “Every Albertan has an interest in how their information is used…in making sure the government is using information responsibly and making sure that information is accessible.”

Last year, however, Newspapers Canada rated Alberta as one of the worst jurisdictions when it comes to access to information.

“Our FOIP legislation is designed to allow the government to keep things secret, and to force people to pay money for information that should rightfully be available to them,” argues Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason.

“People usually have to pay a lot of money to get anything substantial,” he adds, “because they have to go out on a big fishing expedition with a big net to try and find something – because maybe they’ll forget to black something important out.”

In a recent 11-month Global News online investigation into Alberta’s crude oil spills, the Alberta government first quoted us $4,000 for the information requested through FOIP. While that number was later negotiated down to $262, it was just the beginning of a long process.

Among the stories that have been exposed thanks to other requests made under the Act, include Premier Alison Redford’s connection to a major tobacco lawsuit; Allaudin Merali’s lavish expenses while he was at Capital Health (***link***); and Conservative MLA Christine Cusanelli flying her mother and daughter to the London Olympics on her government credit card.

Since then, the provincial government has taken strides in making government more transparent by posting ministers’ expenses online.

“We are achieving unprecedented transparency in Alberta,” says Scott. “Our recent expenses disclosure is a great example of that. We are the gold standard in Canada. Other jurisdictions are looking to us, and saying: ‘We should be emulating Alberta for what they’re doing.'”

But critics don’t believe the government is moving closer to accountability and transparency.

“I think they’re moving in the other direction. I think they’re trying to weaken the legislation with more loopholes. I think they’re trying to allow themselves more access to people’s information,” says Liberal House Leader Laurie Blakeman.

She’s says she’s suspicious of why this current review is being conducted, less than three years after recommendations from a year-long review were submitted.

“There was 22 recommendations. The government have implemented exactly none of them.”

Brian Mason was part of the 2010 review, and is also doubtful the outcome of this one will be any different.

“There was wonderful presentations from different people. And the Commissioner at the time put forward very good proposals. But any sort of substantive changes were voted down by the Conservative majority of the committee. I have no reason to believe that will change this time.”

Don Scott insists he wants this review to result in something meaningful, though. He says he would like the Act to reflect Alberta and the current times.

“When the Act was first introduced, technology was not where it is today,” he points out. “I’m trying to get as many ideas from as many sources as I can.”

Aside from attending the sessions in person, people are also encouraged to submit their ideas online.

The consultation closes on July 31st. After that point, the information will be put in front of an expert panel, and reviewed alongside best national and international privacy practices.

With files from Vassy Kapelos, Global News