Tories officially sue government
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative leader filed court documents Monday challenging a decision by the Liberal government to keep details of the Yarmouth to Maine ferry contract confidential.
Tim Houston says it’s an “extraordinary measure,’’ adding that Nova Scotians should never have to sue their government to get information.
Houston says a date has been set for March 12 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
The Tory move comes after the ruling Liberals rejected a finding from the province’s privacy commissioner that called on the government to release management fee information laid out in the contract with Bay Ferries.
The province signed a 10-year deal with Bay Ferries in 2016, and has provided $32 million in subsidies since the ferry service resumed in 2015.
The government maintains the management fee is confidential commercial information that should remain so.
The government contends there are good reasons for keeping specifics of the contract secret, saying last month that there is a “legitimate public interest in protecting the confidential commercial information of third-party businesses.’’ Deputy Transportation Minister
Paul Lafleche said earlier that the information the department does release on ridership targets, budget costs and actual final expenditures are better indicators of the ferry’s performance.
Houston says he did not talk to Premier Stephen McNeil in the days prior to the court filing and says the issue can be solved if the government simply releases the numbers.
Nicole LaFosse Parker, a lawyer for the provincial Progressive Conservative Caucus Office, said the party originally filed a Freedom of Information request for the Bay Ferries matter two years ago.
“The government has an obligation to provide taxpayers with information,’’ she said, noting that secrecy is allowed only in limited circumstances.
“The privacy commissioner has been very clear in her decision that the government does have to provide this information, and they do not meet those exemptions,’’ she said.
LaFosse Parker said the caucus might start filing more of these lawsuits if further issues come up.