June 24, 2009

Power of PAB Exposed

Information obtained by the Globe & Mail's Justine Hunter shows the government is digging itself in deeper as it offers excuses for not releasing damaging information in the days before the May 12th provincial election. On May 15th I published an article on StrategicThoughts.com regarding the increase in welfare roles and I noted that on the previous evening I had submitted a freedom of information request for any emails that explained why the March 2009 welfare (BCEA) statistics were not posted to the ministry's website by the end of April. I promptly received a phone call from someone in the ministry explaining that the missing statistics had just been posted. I explained that I presumed they would be, but that my information request was not for the statistics but for emails that explained why they were not released on time.

To my delight, and perhaps for the first time since I've been submitting freedom of information requests, last week I received a package of emails answering my request. Typically freedom of information requests result in months of delays, flagrant violation of time limits and ultimately the use of various provisions that allow the government to refuse to provide information. In this case, my request was answered in both the spirit and letter of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The documents show that the Public Affairs Bureau was responsible for delaying the release of the welfare statistics. I immediately responded with another request asking for: 1) any general policy statement issued since May 2005 regarding delaying the release of information during the election, the interregnum period, 2) any statements regarding the authority of the Public Affairs Bureau (PAB), or its staff, to delay the release of information, and 3) any emails between November 1, 2008 and May 13, 2009, suggesting or directing that information not be released during the interregnum period (similar to those sent to the Ministry of Housing and Social Development). As is my practice, on June 15th I requested confirmation of receipt of the request and the file number assigned to it. As of June 23rd I have not received confirmation that the request has been received.

Justine Hunter spoke with Citizens' Services Minister Ben Stewart who is responsible for the Public Affairs Bureau and learned that the policy about not releasing information during the election period does not appear to be written down anywhere. So much for one of my three follow-up requests!

Hunter also reported that: "It was left to the communications directors in each government ministry to prevent the publication of any statistics, reports or other information during the 28-day campaign." If Stewart told Hunter that, he needs to review his Ministry's organization chart. Each Ministry's communication director is part of the Public Affairs Bureau, Stewart's responsibility. The government phone book still shows the Public Affairs Bureau as part of the Ministry of Finance, not Citizens' Services, but it doesn't really matter because most people know it is really controlled from the Premier's Office and just assigned to one ministry or another from time to time so that the budget for the Office of the Premier doesn't look as large as it really is.

I once had a freedom of information request delayed because the Ministry of Health said he had to consult with another Ministry. I submitted an information request on that consultation and learned it was consulting with its own Communications Director, but that counted as another Ministry because the Director is part of the Public Affairs Bureau.

The central controlling power of the Public Affairs Bureau needs to be exposed, which is why the response to my freedom of information request and Hunter's subsequent reporting is important. Even more important are answers to my outstanding freedom of information request. What other information did the Campbell government hide from the public until after the election?