The office of the privacy commissioner released their report looking into a Saskatoon health care worker's claims of privacy violations on Tuesday.
The report comes after care worker Peter Bowden publicly criticized conditions at the Saskatoon care home where he worked.
The privacy commissioner found that Bowden’s privacy was breached when his personal information was shared by his employer, the health region, and the health ministry.
“We found that Oliver Lodge improperly disclosed personal information. We found that Saskatoon Health improperly disclosed personal information,” said privacy commissioner Ronald Kruzeniski.
The Saskatoon Health Region and Oliver Lodge did not have legal authority to release the information, he said.
Kruzeniski also said privacy legislation in Saskatchewan doesn’t apply to the premier or the health minister, who also released Bowden’s personal information. As such, Kruzeniski says the premier’s office did not break any rules in disclosing Peter Bowden’s personal information.
Bowden was suspended from his job at Oliver Lodge with pay last spring after he made allegations about the way seniors in the home were being treated. He was also being investigated for his conduct at the facility, and last week, he was fired.
Health Minister Dustin Duncan said shortly after Bowden’s suspension that the move was unrelated to his public comments, and the Saskatoon Health Region said last week that Bowden’s firing was not connected to whistleblowing.
Health region CEO Dan Florizone told reporters Tuesday that the firing will stand.
“We don’t take dismissal lightly. It is a very serious step,” Florizone said.
Kruzeniski recommended Tuesday that Oliver Lodge, The Saskatoon Regional Health Authority, and the Ministry of Health apologize to Bowden for the release of his personal information.
Premier Brad Wall apologized to Bowden shortly after on behalf of the government for the privacy breach.
“I am going to do that this morning regardless, because accountability in this government rests in those offices,” Wall told reporters.
The privacy commissioner also said that they would like to see privacy rules changed to include MLAs and members of the executive council.
With files from Wayne Mantyka
