Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Patricia Kosseim, released her annual report condemning systemic issues in the provincial government's handling of documents related to the aborted 2022 Greenbelt development decision. Issues include potentially illegal deletion of emails by political staff, use of personal devices, and "opaque codewords" like "G*" to hinder searches, leading to a "near-total absence of decision-making documentation." The report warns this risks eroding public trust, though it notes the government has since tightened procedures. The RCMP is conducting a criminal investigation into the affair.
Watchdog report condemns deleted emails, use of codewords in Greenbelt affair
Canada
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Patricia Kosseim, released her annual report condemning systemic issues in the provincial government's handling of documents related to the aborted 2022 Greenbelt development decision. Issues include potentially illegal deletion of emails by political staff, use of personal devices, and "opaque codewords" like "G*" to hinder searches, leading to a "near-total absence of decision-making documentation." The report warns this risks eroding public trust, though it notes the government has since tightened procedures. The RCMP is conducting a criminal investigation into the affair.
Trending- 1 2013: IPC probe into deleted emails related to Liberal government's gas plant cancellation.
- 2 2022: Progressive Conservative government made aborted decision to develop parts of the Greenbelt.
- 3 2023: Auditor-General and Integrity Commissioner reports concluded the Greenbelt decision was driven by political staff and would benefit connected landowners.
- 4 2023: IPC issued a pre-emptive order for the government to preserve or recover relevant documents.
- 5 Thursday (current week): Information and Privacy Commissioner Patricia Kosseim released her annual report condemning systemic issues in document handling related to the Greenbelt affair.
- Erosion of public trust
- Undermining government accountability
- Ongoing criminal investigation by RCMP
- Potential for future corruption (as warned by NDP leader)
- Legal challenges (Premier's cellphone records)
What: Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner's report condemned systemic issues in the provincial government's document handling related to the Greenbelt affair, including deleted emails and use of codewords.
When: Report issued on Thursday; Greenbelt decision made in 2022; Auditor-General and Integrity Commissioner reports in 2023; 2013 (Liberal gas plant scandal).
Where: Ontario, Canada; Greenbelt area (which arcs around the Greater Toronto Area).
Why: To obscure decision-making processes and potentially hide information related to the controversial Greenbelt development plan, which would have benefited connected landowners.
How: Political staff allegedly deleted emails, used personal devices for government business, and adopted "opaque codewords" like "G*" to make document searches difficult, resulting in a lack of official records for key decisions.