Saskatchewan ignoring requests from privacy commissioner to release documents: report

  • Canadian Press

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe during a media availability at the 2024 Western Premiers' Conference in Whitehorse, Monday, June 10, 2024. CANADIAN PRESS/Crystal Schick

REGINA -- Saskatchewan's privacy commissioner says the provincial government has refused dozens of his requests over the last year to release public information.

A report from Ron Kruzeniski says there were 84 times that government ministries and agencies partially or fully ignored his requests to have documents made public.

It says public bodies fully yielded information in 45 per cent of cases when requested by the commissioner.

The Opposition NDP says the data shows Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party government is not being transparent.

NDP democracy critic Meara Conway says the commissioner should be given power to compel government bodies to release information, a measure already in place in several other provinces and territories.

The report recommends the commissioner be given that authority to promote transparency.

This report by was first published June 20, 2024.