July 17, 2007

Today's court results regarding the South West Shore Development Authority appeal:

The hearing into whether the Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia will be permitted to intervene in the South West Shore Development Authority appeal in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia is now scheduled for September 18, 2007.

Advocacy Group to Intervene in South West Shore Development Authority [SWSDA] Case

(Halifax, NS) The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia today filed an interlocutory application in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax asking the court to permit Right to Know to intervene in a case concerning the South West Shore Development Authority.


At issue in the case is whether Nova Scotia’s freedom of information (FOI) legislation applies to the Authority. The South West Shore Development Authority is one of thirteen Regional Development Authorities in Nova Scotia.


Darce Fardy, President of Right to Know, who is also a past Freedom of Information Review Officer, explained why Right to Know has taken an interest in the case. "The South West Shore Development Authority is telling the court that it is not bound by Nova Scotia’s FOI legislation. We believe there is an overriding public interest in the decisions of public authorities concerning economic development. The province and municipalities have given these bodies a key role in economic development – an activity that is of great public interest and concern.


"We believe public access to information – required by both the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Government Act – is vital to ensuring that good economic development decisions are made by the government and the regional development authorities. At the very least, there should be clarification as to whether the current FOI legislation applies to Nova Scotia’s regional development authorities," he said.


Fardy noted that Right to Know will seek the court’s permission to intervene on the question of whether the legislation applies to the Authority, and does not intend to comment otherwise on the parties or the case at this time.


The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia is an advocacy group established in 2006 to encourage the use and development of freedom of information legislation in order to foster a better informed and more politically active electorate in Nova Scotia, and to improve the quality of public and private decision making in the province. Right to Know aims to achieve this mission through both advocacy and education.


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10 July 2007


For information contact

Darce Fardy, President
The Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia
Tel. (902) 422-1481
E-mail. darce@eastlink.ca

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING / TELECONFERENCE

Date / time: July 20, 2007, 10:00 a.m.

Location (in-person participation): Suite 1800, 1801 Hollis Street,
Halifax

Call in instructions (telephone participation): TBA

Agenda:
1. Annual report of the President
2. Annual financial report of the Secretary-Treasurer 3. By-law
amendment -- dispensing with the combined office of Secretary-Treasurer
and created two separate offices of Secretary and Treasurer 4. By-law
amendment -- increasing the number of permitted directors from seven to
15 5. Election of Directors 6. Election of Officers 7. Other business


Brian K. Awad
Secretary
RTKCNS