NDP Violate Privacy of Saskatchewan People

April 29, 2008

Some former NDP cabinet ministers are breaking the law and violating Saskatchewan people's privacy.

All former Ministers are required by law to archive ministerial correspondence they have received in their capacity as Ministers, including private letters from Saskatchewan citizens.

This is because all of the letters and correspondence received by Ministers is the property of the Crown, not of individual Ministers. 

Most former NDP Ministers have failed to do so.

SaskParty MLAs have called on NDP members to comply with the law and immediately submit all required materials to the Saskatchewan archives because it's clear the NDP are using private information obtained while former Ministers for their political purposes.

Two such letters were used last week by former NDP Justice Minister Frank Quennell when he made false allegations against current Justice Minister Don Morgan.

"NDP members are keeping personal, confidential letters and are prepared to use them for their own political advantage," said Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison.  "Saskatchewan people should be very concerned about this violation of privacy."

The Archives Act was passed by the former NDP government in 2004.   20 of 24 former ministers, including Buckley Belanger, David Forbes, Deb Higgins, Warren McCall, Sandra Morin, John Nilson, Len Taylor, Kevin Yates, Harry Van Mulligan, and Ron Harper, have failed to do so.

Former NDP Justice Minister Frank Quennell said there is no requirement for ministers to archive personal, confidential material.

According to Saskatchewan Justice, that is wrong.   The Justice Ministry says any Minister who does not archive his Ministerial records is violating the Archive Act.