In
September Finance Minister Carole Taylor reported that over
next three years the province expects $287 million more
in "own-source" revenue from school boards and
health authorities than it estimated in its February budget.
Own-source is a euphemism for things like the private payments
made by 1,100 patients for MRIs at St. Paul's and Mt. St.
Joseph's, school fees that have been ruled illegal by the
court, revenue from junk food sold in vending machines and
dozens of other things that have been in the news over the
past year. Of course, it also includes many less controversial
items, from fees charged to foreign students to revenue
from hospital parking. When Taylor revealed a windfall from
own-source revenue, I submitted a freedom of information
request for details on the funds and for any documents that
explain the increase.
On October
18th the Ministry of Finance wrote: "This is to advise
that we have transferred your request for records related
to health authority own-source revenue to the Ministry of
Health … because these records are in the custody and/or
control of the Ministry." On December 4th the Ministry
of Health wrote: "The Ministry of Health does not have
any records on the composition or details responsive to
your request. The numbers reported in the First Quarter
Report were developed by the Ministry of Finance …"
This would be comical if it weren't for the arrogant manner
in which the Campbell government treats the Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and for the
amount of money involved. Appendix A.5 in the Second Quarter
Financial Report says direct revenue for school districts
is estimated to be $502 million this year, and direct revenue
for health authorities is estimated to be $592 million.
If the Ministries have no idea how a change of $287 million
over three years was estimated for those sources of revenue,
then they are either incompetent or less than truthful.
The
Ministry of Education provided an edited email and two highly
aggregated tables in response to the request put to it for
information on own-source revenue. The Ministry wrote that
its Resource Management Department "confirms that its
standard reports confirm the total amount of school-generated
funds for all school districts and that school districts
do not provide the ministry with a breakdown of the composition
of school-generated funds in their districts." With
$502 million at stake, and numerous policy questions on
how those monies are raised, isn't it about time that the
Campbell government made it its business to learn how that
money is raised?
On October
23rd the Ministry of Finance was asked to take a second
look to see if it doesn't really have some documents that
relate to the $287 million projected increase. It responded
saying that it needed to extend the time limit for a response
because it had to consult with other public bodies. Yet
another freedom of information request has been submitted
asking for any documents related to that consultation. The
time limits provided in the Act have now been exceeded for
both outstanding requests. While this
matter will be reviewed by the Freedom of Information
Commissioner, the amounts also make it something that the
Auditor General should examine.
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