Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL (June 2, 2020) – PC Official Opposition Justice Critic and MHA for Harbour Main, Helen Conway Ottenheimer, is speaking out following the release of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Report into how records surrounding the hiring of Carla Foote were handled, hidden, and destroyed.

“I have reviewed the findings of the Commissioner and I wish to extend my appreciation to him for conducting a non-biased and thorough review of the case. Upon reading his report, I am deeply concerned regarding the latest discoveries about the Liberal Government. The evidence unequivocally shows that the Provincial Tourism Department deleted a relevant and important email related to the Carla Foote hiring at the Rooms. The Commissioner’s report revealed that information was not handled properly, that the scope of the request was interpreted too narrowly, and that Government officials failed to assist the complainant appropriately,” said Conway Ottenheimer.

Conway Ottenheimer questions how public bodies can be held accountable if emails relating to important decisions are destroyed and how can public trust in Government be maintained when Government is involved in destruction of important information.

Conway Ottenheimer said, “The Access to Information Legislation is designed to allow citizens, including the media to get access to government information. We have a basic and fundamental right to expect that Government Departments properly create, retain, and not destroy records. How can we properly assess the basis and motives of their decisions otherwise?”

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Policy and Research

(p) 1.709.729.3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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