NSNDP

June 5th, 2019

Privacy Commissioner needs more power

Halifax -- NDP House Leader Claudia Chender made the following statement in response to the Annual Report from Privacy Commissioner Catherine Tully, and the announcement of her departure:

“We need to increase transparency and accountability to help restore public confidence in the work of government. This report outlines that the trend is moving in the opposite direction. This government’s practice of centralizing decision making and blocking public oversight of everything from school site selection to the business case for a P3 contract for the QEII is not the right way to govern.
We have also seen numerous issues with the Liberal government’s ability to protect private information. As more and more government services move online it is imperative to move our legislation into the 21st century.”

The NDP Caucus supports the Privacy Commissioner in her call for updated legislation and believes the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner should an independent office of the Legislature.

-30-