Last week B.C.’s privacy commissioner issued a stinging report on how a provincial government employee had destroyed emails relating to an inquiry about the Highway of Tears. A government employee counselled another to erase emails related to the inquiry. When that employee resisted, the other employee took over the computer and deleted the emails. He then swore under oath he had not done this, but finally confessed.
In response, the minister of technology, innovation and citizens’ services claimed it was an “exception.” Further checking by the privacy commissioner, however, showed that up to 40 per cent of all emails handled in the premier’s office were being systematically destroyed. Included was the commissioner’s statement that “the [premier’s] deputy chief of staff has not personally retained a single email she has ever sent from her government email address.”
So where are the records? How does this track with the premier’s election promise to have the most open, transparent government in the country?
Closer to home, in March of 2013 the Ministry of Transportation published a consultation guide that showed five scenarios to replace the George Massey Tunnel. This was to help in the discussions.
In September of that year, the premier announced at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention (all mayors and councillors in B.C.) that the tunnel was to be replaced by a single eight- to 10-lane bridge at the same location.
In April 2014, I submitted a freedom of information request for “materials such as documents, data, analysis prepared for the premier to allow her to determine and to announce that the Massey Tunnel would be replaced by a bridge over the Fraser River.” On June 4, I received a letter stating: “Although a thorough search was conducted, no records were located in response to your request.”
So what happened? How did the premier become involved, how did she become aware enough of the discussions, the pro and con? Did the cabinet participate in the multi-billion dollar decision so she could make this pronouncement?
Her public comment last week was: “Decisions I make are mostly made in cabinet meeting and all that’s evident to the public because all of that is recorded… and released.” But no records could be found, so did she simply make the decision on her own in the middle of a shower?
I later asked the question of the senior public servants in charge of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project office in Richmond. Their response was silence. I asked them for the financial analysis of comparing the five choices. They responded: “It was high level.” I then asked: “Where were the notes?” They said none were taken.
So just how open and disciplined is the provincial government? Is this how you want a decision costing billions of dollars to be made? Who is hiding what? Where are the notes and briefing papers?
Ian Robertson is a retired professional engineer who has been active in South Delta affairs for over three decades.
