FC: Canadian privacy commissioner resigns after investigation

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Politech archive:
http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=Radwanski

---

From: David Akin <dakin () ctv ca>
To: "'declan () well com'" <declan () well com>
Subject: Canada's privacy commish resigns -- says he was forced out for be
        ing too good at his job
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:25:38 -0400

Hi Declan --

Canada's privacy commissioner, George Radwanski, resigned today after a
political furor over his spending habits. He billed things like $400 lunches
for two to the taxpayer. Radwanski says his political overseers were out to
get him because he was too good at his job and upset some political
applecarts.

His resignation letter is online at:
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2003/02_05_b_030623_e.asp

>From that:

"I have been forced out.
...
For the past nearly three years, I have worked tirelessly to oversee and
defend the privacy rights of all Canadians.
....
Regrettably the aggressiveness, independence, and perhaps effectiveness of
my approach has provoked a powerful political backlash from some who would
prefer a less forceful Privacy Commissioner. For the past two weeks, I have
been the target of an extraordinary and unprecedented assault on my
character, reputation and credibility."

=================================
And here are some links with the background on that "unprecedented assault"

Radwanski faces staff protest, tax probe
Ottawa - On the day he told a Commons committee he was out of town and
couldn't appear to defend his office budget, George Radwanski took Prime
Minister Jean Chretien's senior policy adviser to lunch in Ottawa, a
committee member says.
[Full story at: http://tinyurl.com/f29s]

June 18: Pressure grows on Radwanski to resign
OTTAWA -- The head of a parliamentary committee reviewing the fate of George
Radwanski yesterday pressed the privacy commissioner to resign as the panel
began drafting a report recommending that he be fired . . .
[Full story at: http://tinyurl.com/f2ae]

June 17: Radwanski expensed $444 dinner
OTTAWA -- Privacy commissioner George Radwanski always requested the table
with the best view at the restaurants where he dined, such as at Le Panaché
in Gatineau, Que., where the bill was $444.49 for dinner for two, according
to evidence before a Commons committee.
Over a period of two years, Mr. Radwanski filed expense claims for many
lunches and dinners, often at the finest restaurants in Gatineau or across
the river in Ottawa, such as a $233 meal for two and another for $256 at the
Chateau Laurier's plush restaurant, Zoe's . . .
[Full story at: http://tinyurl.com/f2ai]




David Akin
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CTV News
The Globe and Mail
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Office: 416.313.2503
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To: canucks () canadiansintheus com
From: "Sonia Arrison" <arrison () canada com>
Subject: CANUCKS: Privacy commissioner resigns
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 13:50:10 -0700 (PDT)

Canada's privacy Czar has been under fire now for a
few weeks over his spending habits and today he
resigned. Here's his resignation letter:

http://www.privcom.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2003/02_05_b_030623_e.asp

Canadian politicians it seems have always spent
taxpayer money in questionable ways, so it's odd that
it lead to a resignation in this case.  Here's a part
of Radwanski's letter where he says why he thinks it
has been made into such a big deal (and remember, he's
been in politics a long time).

"Regrettably the aggressiveness, independence, and
perhaps effectiveness of my approach has provoked a
powerful political backlash from some who would prefer
a less forceful Privacy Commissioner. For the past two
weeks, I have been the target of an extraordinary and
unprecedented assault on my character, reputation and
credibility."

-Sonia




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