Freedom of Information documents reveal NDP government’s empty calendars

Freedom of Information documents reveal NDP government’s empty calendars  

• Cabinet met only once, skipped one meeting
•  Eight cabinet ministers violated the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in November
• Nine parliamentary secretaries reported no work-related meetings or calls whatsoever in November

 

“What’s obvious from these records is that David Eby gave his entire caucus a big pay raise, and then they mostly went on vacation on the taxpayer’s dime.” ~~ Peter Milobar, Kamloops Centre MLA and Official Opposition Finance Critic

 

Official BC government calendars – required by law to be posted publicly – show that Premier David Eby held just one cabinet meeting in November and held few scheduled meetings or phone calls in November with any of his new cabinet ministers or parliamentary secretaries.

And the majority of new NDP cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries either posted empty November 2024 work calendars or withheld the records – contrary to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

“What’s obvious from these records is that David Eby gave his entire caucus a big pay raise, and then they mostly went on vacation on the taxpayer’s dime,” said Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and official opposition finance critic.

“What’s doubly concerning is that there are next to no records of meetings or calls in November between members of the premier’s senior staff and new ministers and parliamentary secretaries.”

Following the election last October the premier insisted he would hold a fall sitting in the Legislature, only to flip-flop on the issue on November 22^nd. The legislature has not met for 256 days – since May 16^th, 2024.

Ministers, ministers of state, and parliamentary secretaries are required to release their work calendars, pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This enables citizens to hold their government to account. Taxpayers pay the salaries and expenses of elected officials, and in turn these officials have an obligation to disclose information like schedules and expense receipts.

Twelve NDP ministers and parliamentary secretaries apparently did not bother to file their calendars by the statutory deadline. These calendars must be published 45 days after the end of the month in question.

Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows and Minister of Education and Child Care, is one of the ministers in contravention of freedom of information rules.

“Lisa Beare can’t claim ignorance of her freedom of information obligations. She oversaw FOI as former Minister of Citizens’ Services and introduced one of the calendar directives herself,” said Milobar. “Beare has worked extensively on the FOI file – after all, she’s also the one who introduced $10 processing fees for freedom of information requests.”

Only one new parliamentary secretary reported a meeting with their cabinet minister in November.

Milobar added that parliamentary secretaries who turned in ‘NIL’ calendars, and those who reported no work-related meetings or calls at all, need to explain themselves.

“These NDP MLAs all received promotions and pay bumps from David Eby, but they have chosen to blatantly ignore their obligations as elected officials,” said Milobar. “Are they hiding something?”