RCMP Seek Secrecy for 2010 Security

Access to information. Olympics security planners proposed special exemption
JEFF LEE, Canwest News Service, Oct 14, 2008

Police planners for the 2010 Winter Games are asking permission to ignore requests for information made under the federal Access to Information Act until at least 2012, saying such requests could pose a threat to security.

The recommendation is contained in a "threat assessment" report prepared in April 2007 by the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security's Joint Intelligence Group.

The proposal arose out of a concern that previous public requests for such periodic threat assessment reports had "worked to publicize 2010 ISU-JIG capabilities, vulnerabilities and resources," according to a section written by Insp. Alex Graham, an officer with the security unit.

"Such information can be put to nefarious counter-intelligence use by terrorist or protest groups compromising the security of the 2010 Games," he wrote.

In the recommendations section, Graham suggested "special (access to information) exemption should be sought to defer requests to at least two years after the 2010 Games. The temporary exemption would help to ensure that the integrity of Games security was maintained."

"The public's requirement for government transparency should be tempered with concerns for national security and safety by protecting information which could otherwise be used for counter-intelligence or other nefarious purposes," the note stated.

Information commissioner Robert Marleau said this week he doesn't believe the RCMP needs any special exemption since the Access to Information Act already allows for sensitive information to be redacted for national security purposes.

Agencies like the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Department of National Defence have equally sensitive issues, but comply with the act.

"If CSIS can live with this, and national defence can live with this and we are in a campaign in Afghanistan ... why should there be a special exemption for the Olympics?" he asked.

"There really is no reason to do that in my view. The exemptions and statutes are there now protecting national security. I think the statute is perfectly adequate right now."

Marleau said the RCMP doesn't require his approval but would have to apply to the Treasury Board for the exemption.

However, in the 18 months he has been the information commissioner, he said he has not heard of any exemptions being sought or granted. He noted that since he took office the federal government has expanded the number of agencies and departments covered under the Access to Information Act.

Sgt. Gursharn Bernier, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, characterized Graham's recommendation as only "an opinion" and that it wasn't a formal recommendation.

She also said that the new commander of the unit, assistant commissioner Bud Mercer, believes the act is adequate.

"Our members are allowed their opinions," she said. "It was taken as an opinion, and not as an official recommendation. Assistant commissioner Mercer is supportive and fully compliant with Access to Information legislation, full stop."

Vancouver Sun

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008