The CBC is refusing to release information about a senior television director’s travel and duty entertainment expenses — a move critics decry as unlawful and the latest effort by the public broadcaster to avoid accountability
to taxpayers.The Federal Court recently ruled CBC has no right to deny the information commissioner access, but CBC plans to appeal the court’s decision.
“Unless they receive political direction that enough is enough, they are going to fight the federal court ruling as far as they can go, and that’s going to cost the taxpayer,” said Statham.
It is in CBC’s interest to fight because while the case is under appeal dozens and dozens of CBC requests lie unanswered, Statham said, noting he is waiting for the information commissioner to investigate whether CBC was right to deny him access to Peter Mansbridge’s salary range and possible discretionary benefits.
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| Protests Kady O'Malley 1999 |
We saw parliament censure MacLean's Magazine last week. Why is NO one in parliament asking about the failure of CBC in turning over documents Access To Information Policy (ATIP)?
Access to information expert David Statham believes CBC is misapplying the section 68.1.
The public broadcaster is also refusing to hand over documents to the information commissioner so the watchdog can check whether the CBC is fairly excluding documents or simply trying to avoid embarrassing information from leaking out, he said.
The Federal Court recently ruled CBC has no right to deny the information commissioner access, but CBC plans to appeal the court’s decision.
