Connor says Dilbert’s challenges are not unique

(CNS): In the wake of a recent release in which she aired her frustrations, Cabinet Secretary Orrett Connor has offered his support to Information Commissioner (IC) Jennifer Dilbert but pointed out that the challenges she faced are the same across the board in the public sector. Connor said he empathized with Dilbert but issues such as extremely limited resources afflict all government departments. He also noted that she had an annual budget of almost CI$660,000 and would soon have a five member team.

Connor said he had the utmost confidence that she would use her extensive experience of the Civil Service to achieve the best possible outcomes in her new position and he looked forward to the great things the office would achieve, but that early days were always difficult.

“Establishing a new office may involve looking for accommodations, refurbishing, and advertising, re-advertising and hiring the right staff to do the work. I can understand that it is hard to feel comfortably settled while still experiencing growing pains,” Connor said.

Having spent some three years developing the FOI initiative, he said his office had a personal stake in its success and had worked to seek public input in the IC recruitment process and to ensure the independence of the post.

From mid-2008, the two agencies worked to prepare the ICO for a January start, including: seeking approval for four support staff, securing office accommodations and purchasing a suite of office equipment and computers for five persons and recruited an office manger. The total budget for the ICO was also set at CI$659,000 for the 2008/2009 fiscal year. (CNS understands that in contrast the FOI Unit itself has an annual budget of only around CI$400,000.)

Connor said that it was agreed that the commissioner would be personally involved in the recruitment of senior posts and there are now three full-time staff in place, including Dilbert and her deputy, and the office is in the process of recruiting two more people.

Stating that the challenges outlined by his colleague could be overcome if the agencies continue to work closely together, Connorsaid that the IC is important to good governance.

“We are very grateful to the British Columbia Privacy Commissioner’s Office for allowing the IC to temporarily recruit two of its staff members. It is also important to acknowledge the considerable work that the FOI Implementation Unit has done behind the scenes to ensure that the process of making a FOI request goes as smoothly as possible, thereby easing the workload of the IC,” he added.

Government has processed 360 FOI requests since January and more than 95% of responses have been provided within the 30 day timeframe allowed by law — the average response time being less than 20 days.

After six months of operation there have been a total of 21 appeals, some have been mediated and others sent back to public authorities for internal review, and the office is now scheduled to conduct its first hearing soon.

“While it is normal to expect some teething issues, especially with such a significant whole-of-government initiative such as FOI, we are generally very pleased with everyone’s performance thus far. At the same time, we are doing what is necessary to monitor our progress and make the necessary improvements and adjustments to move forward. At present the FOI unit and the ICO are carefully documenting problems that arise to ensure these are addressed to the best of everyone’s ability and to the public’s satisfaction,” Connor stated.