Michael continues ATIPPA questions
NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) continued her questioning on the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in the House of Assembly today.
She started with Section 70, which stipulates the minister must report to the House through the Speaker’s office the number of requests for access and whether they were granted or denied; the specific provisions of this Act used to refuse access; the number of applications to correct personal information; and the fees charged for access to records.
“Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister of justice, when did he last submit a report?” Michael asked in the House today.
She then asked about the practice of another section of ATIPPA.
“Section 69 … stipulates the Minister of Justice is responsible for publishing a directory of information so people can easily find information government collects,” said Michael, adding, “the Act has been in force for almost a decade.
“I ask the Minister of Justice, can he give the House an estimate of how many government departments have developed and posted directories of information?”
She also questioned the changes Bill 29 makes to solicitor client privilege, and asked about the Department of Municipal Affairs classifying as secret policy advice a document already made largely public by a third party.
