NDP staffer John Heaney says he’s in the dark over privacy investigation
An NDP staffer at the centre of a political storm says Alberta’s privacy commissioner has yet to contact him about an apparent investigation into his conduct.
John Heaney is being investigated by commissioner Jill Clayton over what the opposition labels “political interference” in freedom of information requests.
That investigation began in January, but Heaney recently told Postmedia he hasn’t heard a peep from Clayton.
“I haven’t even heard the first thing from their office about what I’m alleged to have done,” Heaney said.
“There’s a Charter right not to live under that kind of thing for so long. That’s how court cases get thrown out.”
Clayton’s office doesn’t typically comment on investigations, and would not say whether it has contacted Heaney or how long it might take.
Operating ‘in the shadows’ Heaney resigned as Premier Rachel Notley’s chief of staff in August. He was re-hired by the government in October as an executive adviser in the finance ministry. In April, his $130,500 contract was expanded to the energy ministry.
United Conservative Party accountability critic Nathan Cooper on Monday accused the government of operating “in the shadows” by failing to sign a contract with Heaney until months after he began his new role, then not posting the contract online.
He also questioned why Heaney is a registered lobbyist in B.C., which could violate the government employee code of conduct.
Finance Minister Joe Ceci said the contract delay was to deal with “clarifications from the ethics commissioner” with respect to Heaney’s work.
When Cooper raised the issue in the house Monday, asking why Heaney is still a lobbyist, Ceci accused him of “mudslinging.”
He said Heaney has an exemption to continue his non-Alberta work, prompting Cooper to declare “special rules for the government.”
Ceci told reporters Heaney has provided valuable advice on Indigenous relations, balancing the budget and getting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion built.