Privacy commissioner steps in as Vernon tries to charge $2K for public records
The City of Vernon faced a significant directive from the BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner after attempting to charge nearly $2,200 for public records regarding municipal facility maintenance. When a requester challenged these fees, the Commissioner initially dismissed the city’s argument that the request fell outside freedom of information laws, which typically mandate lower costs. By refusing to substantiate its pricing strategy despite multiple opportunities, the city failed to demonstrate that its four-figure demand was reasonable or procedurally sound. Subsequent attempts by the city to justify the cost through hourly labor and scanning rates were also rejected due to a lack of supporting evidence. The Commissioner noted that the city provided no rationale for the estimated time required to locate and produce the documents, nor did it validate the precise page counts cited. Without a transparent basis for its estimates, the city could not prove its fee structure was accurate, leading to the conclusion that the charges were arbitrary and unsupported by factual data or established guidelines. Ultimately, the Commissioner ordered the city to provide the records for free, emphasizing the necessity of transparent and accessible public data management. This case is highly relevant to open data principles as it reinforces the legal obligation of government bodies to minimize barriers to information access. It serves as a critical reminder that public records must remain affordable and freely available to ensure transparency, preventing administrative costs from hindering citizen engagement and accountability in local governance.
Source: infotel.caPublished on 2024-08-22