The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Phil Wall, has released his Report 2007-005 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to //www.oipc.gov.nl.ca/

Report 2007-005
Report Date: May 4, 2007
Public Body: Department of Health and Community Services

Summary: The Applicant applied to The Department of Health and Community Services (the "Department") under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the "ATIPPA") for access to information related to the provision of the Selfcare/Telecare service, including the Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") between the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Province of New Brunswick with respect to this service. The Department and the Applicant acknowledged the MOU as the only responsive record. The Department denied access to the entire record citing sections 23 (Intergovernmental Relations), 24 (Financial or Economic Interests of a Public Body), and 27 (Business Interests of a Third Party). The Commissioner concluded that a portion of the responsive record, identified as a contract between another Province and a third party, as well as Schedule C to the Agreement between the two Provinces, were appropriately withheld in accordance with sections 23(1)(b)and 23(1)(a) respectively. The remainder of the record was not protected by either of the claimed exceptions. The Commissioner recommended that the MOU be disclosed to the Applicant, with the exception of the above noted contract as appended to the MOU and Schedule C.

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Media contact:
Sandy Hounsell
Executive Director
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
709-729-6309

2007 05 10                                    11:25 a.m.