BackThe Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has found that the secrecy, privacy and immunity provisions of the Citizens’ Representative Act constitute an absolute bar against disclosure of information received by the Office of the Citizens’ Representative (Ombudsman).
The Citizens’ Representative had sought an exemption under Section 487.015(4)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada from the requirements of a production order served on him by the provincial police force. In the context of a fraud investigation, the production order sought the names, addresses, dates of birth and telephone numbers of persons who made complaints to a former Citizens’ Representative. The exemption was initially declined by the issuing Chief Judge of the Provincial Court, but allowed on appeal. The full decision of the Supreme Court is available here.
Source: Citizen’s Representative of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
