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| Last updated at 10:22 AM on 03/11/08 |
Response to access request sparks investigation 
LORIE O'HALLORAN
The Labradorian
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has launched an investigation into the town's response to an Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA) request filed by The Labradorian.
On August 22 The Labradorian requested copies of expense claims for the Mayor, Councillors and Management employees, including credit card records and mileage claims.
On October 15, the document was picked up from the Town Office and after being reviewed it was obvious all the requested documents weren't provided.
The Labradorian then filed a request for a review with the Privacy Commissioner's officer.
The role of the Privacy Commissioner's Office is to investigate and mediate complaints, as well as make recommendations to government departments and agencies, boards and municipalities.
The purpose of Newfoundland and Labrador's ATIPPA is to make public bodies more open and accountable and to protect individual privacy by giving the public a right of access to records.
According to the records The Labradorian did obtain, the town holds three Royal Bank Visa credit cards, held by mayor Leo Abbass, town manager Al Durno and town clerk Valerie Sheppard.
After reviewing the records provided, The Labradorian discovered that 11 months of credit card statements were missing from Ms. Sheppard's credit card records along with one month from Mr. Durno's records and four months of Mr. Abbass' records.
In addition to the missing records, no receipts were provided for any of the credit card records, as requested, which was also the case with the expense claims. Claim forms were provided but no receipts.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner is also investigating a complaint filed by The Labradorian for the fees charged for the requested information.
On August 25, 2008 The Labradorian received an estimate of $150 from the town for the requested documents, but on October 2, 2008 when the documents were ready for pick up, the town increased the fee to $288.
In a letter dated October 20, 2008, the Privacy Commissioner's office requested copies of all documents provided to The Labradorian, within 14 days of the letter date, so it could continue its investigation.
In a letter dated October 21, the town was asked to provide a detailed explanation of its estimate of time and expense involved in processing The Labradorian's request.
editor@thelabradorian.ca
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03/11/08
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