A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Western Standard to the City of Calgary for the release of COVID information was met by a bill for $12,600..After receiving a tip, the Western Standard prepared a FOI request that was sent to the City of Calgary, the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services and Alberta’s Ministry of Health, each incurring a $25 submission fee..In the City of Calgary’s case, the FOI office informed the Western Standard that it would need to pay a bill of $12,600 to retrieve the information..The FOI request centred on the testing and results of fecal matter for COVID-19 within the Calgary and Edmonton municipalities..In the request, the Western Standard asked for “all test results relating to the testing of fecal matter, including all documents, briefings, emails, texts, and any other transmission or document concerning fecal matter testing with any results or reference to COVID, COVID-19, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.”.Within two weeks of the FOI request being sent, City Clerk’s Office FOIP analyst Carlene Harren, responded in a letter with a subject line: “Estimate of Fees – Deposit Required.”.The letter goes on to state that “fees may be charged for providing the information which is requested,” and a copy of the FOIP Regulation was attached to the response..“The fee for providing the records requested is estimated to be $12,636.50,” said the letter, indicating the request was on hold until receipt of deposit..ISC-Confidential.Download.Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Kevin Lacey, told the Western Standard the government should be “more transparent” and “taxpayers should be entitled to the information they request.”.“There should be total transparency as to the actions they (tax-funded agencies) are taking,” said Lacey..“This is a really important issue that doesn’t get enough coverage. Taxpayers have a right to know where their tax dollars are going.”.Lacey said the “very expensive” FOI fees are all too common and “work to prevent people from getting the information they deserve from the government.”.“They use these fees to quell criticism of the government,” Lacey added and suggested the government should be working to make more information public..The FOI reply offers a provision, found in the FOIP Act, that states,” when there is an inability to pay or the records relate to a matter of public interest, fees can be reduced or waived entirely.”.The FOI reply says a request for review of fees can be sent to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC)..The Western Standard will be appealing the fees to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commission..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
