Open letter to Premier Darrell Pasloski:
As of Monday, Bill No. 48, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy act, was still on the order paper for the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
Many people seem to not remember, but the Ostashek Yukon Party government was instrumental in putting forward the ATIPP legislation in May 1995 and also led the charge for the creation of the ombudsman.
The original Yukon Access to Information legislation was championed by the Yukon Progressive Conservative government in 1984.
It is indeed ironic that the current Yukon Party government is being tarred with the brush of government secrecy and denial of information - wrongs that John Ostashek fought so hard against in the first place.
In my considered view, the unaccountable bureaucrats have convinced your government to engage in these changes, in contravention of the fundamental principles of open and accountable government.
That is indeed unfortunate. It is also wrong.
I hope that you and your cabinet think very carefully about what you are seeking to change and why - and stop it. It goes against fundamental principles which many people have fought so hard to protect in the past.
Florian Lemphers
Lake Laberge