BERNARD RICHARD TO INVESTIGATE LETTERGATE!!!!!

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Watchdog will probe privacy complaint against premier
Last updated May 2 2006 04:51 PM ADT
CBC News
New Brunswick's ombudsman has agreed to investigate a complaint against Premier Bernard Lord and Transportation Minister Paul Robichaud.

Liberal Leader Shawn Graham asked Bernard Richard to look into the release of a letter that contained personal information about a New Brunswick resident.

The release of the letter led to the resignation last week of Lord's press secretary, Chisholm Pothier.

The Liberals want to know if Lord approved the release of the letter.

Richard, a former Liberal MLA, also wants to know who authorized the release of the letter, and is concerned Pothier's resignation could send a chill through the public service.

"I've decided that I will investigate the complaint," said Richard. "If civil servants feel that this is the new standard now, that if they provide information that may be borderline, they might be called upon to resign or be fired as a result."

Liberals say both Lord and Robichaud violated the Protection of Private Information Act by keeping a letter containing a citizen's personal and private information and using it for political gain.

The individual's personal information was contained in a January 2005 letter Lord referred to in the legislature last week.

The letter was addressed to Transportation Minister Paul Robichaud and written by Liberal MLA Carmel Robichaud, on behalf of a constituent who had been convicted of drunk driving, but wanted a permit to drive to and from work.

Lord referred to the letter after the Liberal Opposition raised questions about Tory supporters trying to influence the government on a Shediac development project.

Lord offered to table the letter in the house, suggesting Liberal MLAs were using their influence to help drunk drivers get back behind the wheel.

Outside of the chambers, Pothier handed copies of the letter to reporters without blacking the individual's name out. He apologized, saying he regretted that decision and was personally responsible for making the letter public. He then resigned.

Lord says Pothier is the only person in violation of the act, and insists neither he or Robichaud broke the rules.

"He did receive a complaint so the ombudsman feels compelled, I presume, to examine the complaint and he will. There's nothing wrong with that," Lord said. "But I can tell you that I did not break the act and neither did Minister Robichaud."

Richard estimates his investigation will take approximately two months to complete.