B.C. government under fire for `Orwellian' legislation
B.C. government under fire for `Orwellian' legislation Jonathan Fowlie. CanWest News. Don Mills, Ont.: Apr 8, 2008. Abstract (Summary) David Loukidelis wrote to Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy Minister Richard Neufeld, saying sections of two pieces of recently introduced legislation represent "a significant encroachment" on freedom of information laws. Full Text (462 words) Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Apr 8, 2008 Note: CNS-SECRET-CLIMATE-VANISL.466 words with 103 words in optional trim VICTORIA - B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner says the government's new climate-change legislation permits too much secrecy and should be changed before it becomes law. David Loukidelis wrote to Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy Minister Richard Neufeld, saying sections of two pieces of recently introduced legislation represent "a significant encroachment" on freedom of information laws. "This is a matter of significant concern, considering the importance of environmental protection measures relating to climate change and the need for openness and accountability in the monitoring and enforcement of such measures, " Loukidelis said in letters dated April 4. He was concerned about a bill to establish a cap-and-trade system to limit pollution from large emitters, and another to set new environmental requirements for transportation fuels. In both bills, the government is seeking extra powers to prohibit the release of information supplied by private corporations. Mary Carlson, executive director of Loukidelis's office, said the changes go beyond what any other province is doing. "It's creating an unnecessarily broad protection," Carlson said Monday, adding there is already legislation in place to balance corporate protection with public transparency. "When you are a business and you are getting certain benefits from the government, or doing business with the government, there is more transparency there than if it was a purely private transaction," she added. Penner said he had already asked to meet with Loukidelis. "The drafters (of the cap-and-trade legislation) tell me they only worded (the legislation) the way they did in an effort to prevent the inadvertent release of potentially sensitive information for businesses that might reveal competitive information that is of interest to their competitors," said Penner. "We will work with the privacy commissioner to see if we can address his concerns while still protecting the release of sensitive information," he added. Neufeld, who introduced the low-carbon-fuel legislation, could not be reached for comment. Darrell Evans, executive director of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, called the language in the two bills "Orwellian." "It's really a recipe for secrecy," he said. New Democratic Party Environment critic Shane Simpson said the bills are further evidence of what he called the Liberal government's penchant for secrecy. "This just adds to the secrecy that we have seen going on in the government. It adds to the secrecy around cap-and-trade and secrecy around climate change, " Simpson said. "What this means is any discussions that are held with the large polluters, the large emitters, over what standards should be in place, about what the industry position is around negotiations on what cap-and-trade might look like - all of those discussions potentially are kept secret," he said. "I think it's very concerning." Vancouver Sun jfowlie@png.canwest.com Credit: Canwest News Service Inserted from <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?vinst=PROD&fmt=3&startpage=-1&ver=1&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=1460741581&exp=04-15-2013&scaling=FULL&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&TS=1208353715&clientId=15814&cc=1&TS=1208353715>
Posts
