NL premier's branch of the civil service using its clout to foil FOI requests

Last updated at 9:29 AM on 06/12/08

Executive decisions

The premier's branch of the civil service has been quietly involved in vetting responses under the province's freedom of information laws, directing other

Premier Danny Williams - Image via Wikipedia

public bodies to keep information secret

ROB ANTLE
The Telegram

The branch of the civil service that serves the premier's office has been directing other government departments and agencies to keep information secret from the public, ignoring recommendations to the contrary from an independent officer of the House of Assembly.

Executive Council has no actual legislative authority to tell other public bodies what to do.

But documents pieced together by The Telegram over the past six months reveal that Executive Council is using its clout - mainly under instructions contained in a government policy manual - to keep information secret.



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