AFL wins another round for 
freedom of information

Jason Foster, AFL Staff

The Freedom of Information and Privacy Commissioner has ordered the Alberta government to release an additional 72 pages of health and safety records from the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Plant. The order is the completion of a four year process started by the AFL to get information on the 1997 explosion and the plant and other safety information.

In his August decision, the Commissioner stated that the government and Bovar Inc. (the private sector managers of the plant until December 2000), had failed to prove that the release of the documents would jeopardize the corporate interests of Bovar.

"This is a strong victory for the right of Albertans to know what is happening in the Swan Hills Plant," says AFL President Les Steel. "Too bad it took four years to wrestle the documents from them."

In August of 1997, the AFL made a request under the Freedom of Information for access to documents related to the health and safety record of Bovar and the Swan Hills Waste Treatment Plant. The Swan Hills Plant disposes of hazardous waste material, contaminated with PCBs, freon or other dangerous substances.

Some records were released to the AFL, but hundreds of pages were severed by the government. The AFL requested an inquiry from the Commissioner. The initial inquiry ruled in favour of the AFL but also revealed an additional 72 pages were still being held back due to an agreement between the government and Bovar. The AFL again requested an inquiry.

In the proceedings, the government argued that releasing the records would jeopardize its ongoing "partnership" with Bovar on health and safety matters.

"The Alberta government has forgotten what their job is," said Steel. "Instead of enforcing the law, they are working in cooperation with private corporations to hide information and water down regulations. Hopefully this decision reminds them their responsibility is to ensure the safety of workers."

Documents previously released to the AFL have shown there are elevated levels of PCBs in the blood of Swan Hills workers. Records also show that spills and leaks of PCB-laden waste is a regular occurrence on the plant site.

"The Swan Hills Plant is a health and safety nightmare. Rather than do anything about it, the government chose to work in partnership with the employer to hide this damning information," said Steel.

As of press time, the AFL had not yet received the last 72 pages of records.