Sask. privacy commissioner disputes logic used by province, U of S to deny access to travel records

Saskatchewan's privacy watchdog doesn't buy the provincial government's argument for withholding travel records from a 2023 trip to Germany.

The disagreement stems from a freedom of information request for records related to a 2023 Ministry of Trade and Export Development trip to Germany. Privacy commissioner Ron Kruzeniski reviewed the request and government response after the ministry released some records, but held back others.

The ministry argued releasing travel records is a security risk because they include hotel addresses, flight information and ride-share receipts that could put politicians and others on government trips in danger if made public.

Kruzeniski found that argument lacking, partly because "all of this information relates to flights, taxi rides and hotel stays" that already happened. 

"Given the nature of the withheld information, I do not see how release could threaten the safety or the physical or mental health of an individual," Kruzeniski wrote in the report released this January.

The initial request asked for "all receipts for all expenses, including accommodation, travel, meals, incidental and miscellaneous for the Minister, staff and any other accompanying parties," as well as the minister's itineraries and meeting notes, according to the commissioner's report. The person who made the request is not named.

Premier Scott Moe told reporters on Friday he disagrees with the commissioner. Moe said releasing meeting locations or the addresses of hotels where politicians stay is a security risk, even if the trip already happened.

"When we go back, where do you think you're gonna stay?" Moe said. "We're always looking for reasonable rates at the places where we might stay and how we get around in those areas."

All travel costs for out-of-province travel are posted online, according to a statement from the ministry.

"Officials with the Ministry of Trade & Export Development are currently reviewing the Acting Commissioner's recommendations and will take them into consideration when determining next steps," read the statement.

The University of Saskatchewan submitted arguments to Kruzeniski as well, because it is mentioned throughout the report as a third-party named in the requested records.

The university argued the records should not be released because they include sensitive information about funding, research partners and future projects that give other institutions a competitive advantage if released.

Again Kruzeniski disagreed, because much of the information the U of S does not want released is easily found in annual reports, news releases and media coverage.

"The existence of this publicly available information referred to above was uncovered by my staff because of its own research," Kruzeniski wrote.

"Given the publicly available information about the organizations that the U of S and Trade and Export Development met with on this trip, I find that the decision to withhold this information from the Applicant surprising."

The U of S "is reviewing the decision … and will assess what learnings we can take from the report," according to an emailed statement.