Top Conservatives Violate the Privacy Act

Canada is becoming more like the US every day thanks to this Conservative minority government. Wednesday's Montreal Gazette reveals that the identity of a journalist who had requested documents via the Access to Information Act was widely revealed and discussed by members of the Conservative government, including the PM's communications director, back in March two months before the CP reporter, Jim Bronskill, even received the documents.

Documents obtained by The Gazette under the Access to Information law reveal that in one case, the name of a reporter about to receive documents under the act was divulged during a telephone conference call.

The reporter's name was disclosed by an official reporting on behalf of the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Department.

The documents show that officials from at least eight departments participated in the conference call. Minutes of the call were distributed to an additional 19 people in the Privy Council Office and the Prime Minister's Office, including PMO communications director Sandra Buckler and deputy communications directors Christine Csversko and Genevieve Desjardins.

Deputy information commissioner Alan Leadbeater said it's not the only case of the confidentiality of the names of access requesters being violated - particularly when there is a concern that the information could result in embarrassing questions to a cabinet minister.

"We see situations where representatives from the minister's office will meet on a regular basis, sometimes weekly, with the access to information people to find out what access requests have been received and what material is being released, and in the course of those meetings there is a tendency to share with the minister's staff the identities of the requesters."

What's even more disturbing is this particular incident mentioned in the article:

Revealing the name can have adverse consequences for the requester, he added, citing the case of one deputy minister who called a requester and made a threat.

And, which story was Bronskill working on? The matter of the possibility of CIA/planes (extraordinary rendition/torture flights) landing in Canada - which begs the question: why was the Public Safety department so concerned about what Bronskill might find and eventually report on? That's the elephant in the room here.

"Noted there will shortly be another Bronskill/CIA Planes article, as new ATIP info is going out from PSEP," the public safety and emergency preparedness department reported. "The info essentially reiterates that normal procedures were followed and nothing abnormal was discovered."

Is there something abnormal that the PSEP might be hiding that wouldn't have been revealed via an Access to Information request? If what Bronskill requested was not a threat, why was his name revealed at the highest levels of government? And, who else has been outed by the Conservatives in these weekly conference calls who may now be considered a subversive journalist? Why is this government breaking the law to follow the actions of journalists and others who are requesting legally sanctioned information that they have a right to obtain? What is this government so afraid of?

For a government that claims to be dedicated to accountability and transparency, it's obvious that they're just giving lip service to those ideals while, at the same the time, violating the privacy of Canadian citizens and that ought to be a very serious concern for all Canadians.

Harper's attitude towards the press is disturbing enough so it's understandable that he and his minions would do everything possible to ward off possible attacks, but this violation of the Privacy Act goes much further than spying on reporters. Who knows who else is being watched by this government? Frankly, anyone who has made a request is at risk and has possibly had their identity compromised as well. It's now up to the Privacy Commissioner to initiate a full-blown investigation into this government's violations and to ensure that this never happens again. And, it's time for heads to roll in this government. Canadians will not stand for this blatant invasion of privacy.