The 'Secret' Docs
On
Friday, June 9, the District of North Cowichan released a series of
documents that the CRA had officially requested through Freedom of
Information.
The documents were the minutes of closed council meetings, staff
reports and memos all pertaining to council's decision to take the next
steps in planning the development of Echo Heights Forest.
The CRA made
its initial FOI request on May 13, saying that matters of public
interest should not be made in closed meetings.
We were greatly assisted by Airi Schroff and others from UVic's
Environmental Law Clinic who have championed our cause.
To download a
1.5mb PDF file of all the documents, as well as an explanatory letter from the CRA Legal Committee, click here.
The following is the original CRA request to North Cowichan:
May 13, 2006
Director of Administration
Municipality of North Cowichan
Box 278
North Cowichan, BC
V9L 3X4
Please send me the following records:
• A copy of the decision documents and records of discussion relating to the decision by Council to proceed with the development of Echo Heights
• “In camera” minutes considered in the closed session of the Council meeting on April 19, 2006 relating to Echo Heights
• The entire Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo (File 6700-50 ECHO)
• The Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo “steps a-g” endorsed in the May 3, 2006 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
I am making this request under the B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
As soon as any significant part of this request is completed, please send that part of the information and records to me, rather than waiting until all the responsive records are compiled and sending them all at once.
If any of the records responsive to my request are available through routine release, or may be viewed in a local “reading room”, please inform me. If any of these records are in readable computer format, please send them by disc or email instead of on paper.
Please excuse me from the requirement to pay any fees for the fulfillment of this request, as I am making this request as a matter of public interest. The information will be used to inform the public about a matter of public interest of significant potential environmental consequence. This matter is one of substantial public interest and has generated much discussion in the community, letters to the Municipality, and public meetings.
This information should be available to the public without us having to go through a formal Freedom of Information request. The Municipality of North Cowichan included a copy of a media release document for April 28, 2006 in the Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes for May 1, 2006 announcing North Cowichan Council’s intent to proceed with development of the 52 acre parcel of Municipal land west of Channel View Estates; have a link on the Municipality of North Cowichan’s home page indicating Council’s decision to proceed with development of this site; and specifically refer to the Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo in the public May 3, 2006 Regular Council meeting minutes endorsing “steps a-g” in relation to Echo Heights. The public has a right to know what the content is of the decision that was made in relation to Echo Heights, and specifically a right to obtain copies of the decision documents relating to Echo Heights. The “steps a-g” of the Director of Planning’s Memo on April 25, 2006 were specifically endorsed in a public meeting, incorporating these by reference into a public document, and therefore these should be disclosed as per my request.
Please be advised that if there are unreasonable fees, deletions or delays in your response to this request, I intend to appeal to the Information Commissioner at the earliest opportunity. If you wish to negotiate this request, please call or write me.
Municipality of North Cowichan
Box 278
North Cowichan, BC
V9L 3X4
Please send me the following records:
• A copy of the decision documents and records of discussion relating to the decision by Council to proceed with the development of Echo Heights
• “In camera” minutes considered in the closed session of the Council meeting on April 19, 2006 relating to Echo Heights
• The entire Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo (File 6700-50 ECHO)
• The Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo “steps a-g” endorsed in the May 3, 2006 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
I am making this request under the B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
As soon as any significant part of this request is completed, please send that part of the information and records to me, rather than waiting until all the responsive records are compiled and sending them all at once.
If any of the records responsive to my request are available through routine release, or may be viewed in a local “reading room”, please inform me. If any of these records are in readable computer format, please send them by disc or email instead of on paper.
Please excuse me from the requirement to pay any fees for the fulfillment of this request, as I am making this request as a matter of public interest. The information will be used to inform the public about a matter of public interest of significant potential environmental consequence. This matter is one of substantial public interest and has generated much discussion in the community, letters to the Municipality, and public meetings.
This information should be available to the public without us having to go through a formal Freedom of Information request. The Municipality of North Cowichan included a copy of a media release document for April 28, 2006 in the Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes for May 1, 2006 announcing North Cowichan Council’s intent to proceed with development of the 52 acre parcel of Municipal land west of Channel View Estates; have a link on the Municipality of North Cowichan’s home page indicating Council’s decision to proceed with development of this site; and specifically refer to the Director of Planning’s April 25, 2006 memo in the public May 3, 2006 Regular Council meeting minutes endorsing “steps a-g” in relation to Echo Heights. The public has a right to know what the content is of the decision that was made in relation to Echo Heights, and specifically a right to obtain copies of the decision documents relating to Echo Heights. The “steps a-g” of the Director of Planning’s Memo on April 25, 2006 were specifically endorsed in a public meeting, incorporating these by reference into a public document, and therefore these should be disclosed as per my request.
Please be advised that if there are unreasonable fees, deletions or delays in your response to this request, I intend to appeal to the Information Commissioner at the earliest opportunity. If you wish to negotiate this request, please call or write me.