VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals’ decision to shortchange the information and privacy commissioner threatens his office’s ability to uphold the public’s right to openness and accountability, particularly in light of a number of court challenges as the government attempts to keep information hidden, the New Democrats said today.

“The privacy commissioner requested a budget increase to handle the numerous legal challenges the B.C. Liberal government is mounting against his rulings,” said New Democrat MLA Doug Donaldson , deputy chair of the finance committee.  Doug Donaldson

“It is the height of hypocrisy for the B.C. Liberals to increase costs for the commissioner’s office by taking him to court in an attempt to keep information secret while at the same time restricting the commissioner’s ability to defend his decisions.”

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld an earlier decision by information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis, who had ordered the government to release information requested under the Freedom of Information Actregarding a lucrative technology support contract with IBM.

Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis had requested a budget increase to pay for ongoing legal battles, most of which are with the government, but late yesterday it was confirmed the B.C. Liberals on the legislature’s finance committee shortchanged his request by $100,000. New Democrat MLAs on the committee voted against the B.C. Liberals’ recommendation.

Doug Routley“If the B.C. Liberals are serious about living up to their promise to be open and accountable, the government must stop wasting public money trying to keep British Columbians in the dark,” said Doug Routley , New Democrat citizen’s services critic.

“The first step the government should take is to abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling and release the IBM contract.”

The nine-member Select Standing Committee on Finance was also split on other recommendations in this year’s Review of the Independent Offices of the Legislative Assembly.   The B.C. Liberal majority of the committee shortchanged the Ombudsperson’s office and voted against awarding Elections B.C. money to conduct an enumeration program to improve the democratic election process. In both cases, New Democrats voted against the B.C. Liberals.

Carole James and the New Democrats are holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for their secrecy, for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.