This is access to information. If you can’t read the bit on the top, it reads:
Entire document (pgs 1-25) redacted under section 20(1)(b), 20(1)(d)
As you can see, the entire document has been redacted. From page 1 to 25, every single page is like this. Completely censored.
Section 20(1)(b) and 20(1)(d) of the Access to Information Act relate to third party companies and groups that are consulting the government, and these sections allow redactions if there is a reasonable chance revealing that information would threaten that company or group, or get in the way of negotiating/dealing contracts with said .
This document is from PPP Canada (Public-private partnership Canada), that specifically deals with working with private companies to deliver what would otherwise be public services. This document is part of my continued inquiry and concern over the possibility of privatized prisons, particularly considering the trends under the current administration, and particularly considering the evidence that Geo Group Inc. is already lobbying.
Now, from the redaction alone, and the justification, we can infer quite a few things. First, considering the absolute censorship of all 25 pages, clearly there’s a lot to hide, and relating to that third party; apparently, as a tax-payer and a citizen, I don’t have a right to any of the information related to GEO Group’s lobbying, except for know the fact they are lobbying; any other details are unavailable to me. I wonder why.
What I find the most curious, though, is them invoking section 20(1)(d) of the Access to Information Act, which states:
20. (1) Subject to this section, the head of a government institution shall refuse to disclose any record requested under this Act that contains…(d) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with contractual or other negotiations of a third party.
This pretty much infers there is negotiation already going on, and the potential for a contract to already be in the work. Or that a contract is already being drafted. They used this section to censor, so unless they’re lying, Canada is on its way to more private prisons. This is, as it were, Breaking News.
I repeat, here is evidence that contracts are being negotiated to get Geo Group Inc., a private company, to run and/or provide services for correctional facilities (prisons). Either that, or I have been lied to or mislead by the PPP department, which is a crime.
***
I am, personally, not comfortable with such little information, so I shall be lodging a complain with the Information Commissioner of Canada, in order to make sure all of these complete redactions were justified. At the very least, I will be getting clarification.
This, just like getting Access to Information, requires filling out a complaint form and literally mailing it in; they don’t accept email or phone. An arduous process indeed.
