Family of researcher who died in Nunavut want investigation report released: privacy commissioner

Nunavut's privacy commissioner says the family of a University of Alberta researcher who died doing field work near Grise Fiord wants the investigation report about her death to be released to the public.

Maya Bhatia, a biogeochemist and associate professor at the university's science faculty, died Aug. 16, 2023, after an incident on the Jackman Glacier. 

In a report released last week, Graham Steele, the territory's information and privacy commissioner, recommended the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) release an investigation report from the University of Alberta as well as a witness statement from a member of another research team in Grise Fiord about what happened. 

Steele was asked to review the WSCC's decision not to release the documents after someone filed an access to information request for the report and other relevant documents in August 2024. 

He disagreed with the WSCC's argument that releasing the documents might be harmful to someone's mental or physical health and that information about possible mistakes Bhatia made were exempt from disclosure because they infringed on her privacy.

As part of his review, Steele said, he contacted members of Bhatia's family and found they were "unanimous and clear" that the investigation report should be publicly released. 

"They believe that it would be a meaningful outcome from their tragic loss if safety rules for field research were strengthened … they want lessons to be learned from their loved one's death in the hope that lives may be saved and injuries avoided," he wrote. 

"They fear that not releasing the investigation report publicly will inhibit that outcome." 

Steele said the author of the witness statement also consented to its disclosure. 

In an emailed statement, the WSCC said it "supports" the commissioner's recommendations. It did not say when it would release the investigation report, but did say that it was "working on a timeline" to do so.