‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’
Opposition leader wants an expansion to FOIPP legislation
Letting P.E.I.’s postsecondary schools set up their own access to information policies doesn’t go far enough, says Opposition Leader James Aylward, and he wants an expansion to FOIPP legislation.
Letting P.E.I.’s post-secondary schools set up their own access to information policies doesn’t go far enough, says Opposition Leader James Aylward.
On Thursday, Aylward raised the issue in the legislature, questioning why the schools aren’t included in provincial freedom of information legislation.
Speaking to the media after question period, Aylward said it is expensive to make an access to information request to the schools with a $25 application fee and $40 per hour charged for the work to complete it.
“Currently we have a double standard here on P.E.I.,” he said.
Under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection (FOIPP) Act it costs $5 to request a record from the provincial government.
The province charges a further $10 per half hour to locate and prepare the record with the first two hours free.
UPEI waives the $40 fee for anything taking less than an hour to complete.
Holland College has a similar policy to UPEI.
In October, P.E.I.’s privacy commissioner, Karen Rose, recommended post-secondary institutions be included in the provincial legislation, saying there was no independent oversight under the current systems.
Under the UPEI and Holland College policies, any requests for reconsideration of an access to information decision go to vice-presidents of the schools.
Aylward said P.E.I. is the last jurisdiction in the country that doesn’t cover post-secondary institutions under freedom of information law.
He also said the province is giving post-secondary schools more than $100 million in funding in taxpayers’ dollars in the next fiscal year.
“So, as far as I’m concerned if they’re getting taxpayers’ money there should be a greater degree of openness and transparency.”
Aylward said UPEI’s policy is also not retroactive beyond when it was implemented in 2017.
“You can’t go back in time and look for something that you’re trying to do research on,” he said.
Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant responded to Aylward during question period and said consultations are underway on the issue.
Although he didn’t raise it in the legislature, Aylward was also asked about Rose’s recommendation to include municipalities in the FOIPP Act.
Aylward agreed they should be.
“When we’re talking about openness and transparency we need to ensure that that’s enshrined and that we have strong legislation in place and we do have the availability and accessibility to FOIPP,” he said.