by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Sep 15/97) - The chair of the Keewatin Regional Health Board is refusing to release minutes of some public meetings, despite an order from the health minister.

The board is not covered by the territorial Access to Information Act, however, and one man's four-month battle to change Betty Palfrey's mind has produced only mixed results.

Four months ago, Jim McLeod, a Baker Lake dental therapist laid off this past spring during a round of budget cuts, asked for minutes from Jan. 1, 1992 to Aug. 7, 1997.

"Mrs. Palfrey has flatly refused to honor my request nor has the minister of health, who is ultimately responsible for the Health Board, seen fit to make the board comply," said McLeod in an Aug. 28 letter to Premier Don Morin.

"It is truly a sad state of affairs when I must write the premier of the NWT to obtain public information."

McLeod began his quest for board minutes back in May. He sent a letter to the board outlining his request and a response stated firmly that the board would not comply as the documents include confidential discussions held during the in camera sessions.

Palfrey did not distinguish between public and private sessions, writing only that "the minutes are not public documents."

McLeod then turned to Health Minister Kelvin Ng for action. Ng responded on June 4 that "the minutes of annual general meetings of health boards are a matter of public record and should be made available to the public when requested."

Ng said he would send notice to the board to provide copies of the meetings.

He added that, while it is unusual for there to be an in camera session during an annual general meeting, only the motions, and not the full discussion, passed during those sessions would be recorded in the minutes.

On June 25, McLeod received a letter from Palfrey stating he would be receiving the board minutes between 1992 and 1996.

As of Aug. 6, however, he had only received AGM minutes for 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996. He was told there was no meeting in 1994.

McLeod, not happy with Palfrey's response, sent another letter to Ng requesting all minutes, including those for 1997, be sent to him as soon as possible.

"I trust that I will receive this information within the next two weeks as this issue has been unresolved since early May 1997 and is simply unacceptable," wrote McLeod.

When Ng and Palfrey met face to face last week with Kivalliq mayors in Rankin Inlet, both were asked why it is so difficult to get minutes from KRHB meetings.

Ng said the department is going through an exercise to review minutes and make them more readily available to the public.

Palfrey said the board is looking at confidential information that's not for public use in the minutes and is having it removed.

Palfrey said the board will discuss the disclosure of minutes at their AGM next month, and make amendments to the way things are currently done.

Elaine Keenan-Bengts, commissioner of the recently established access to information office of the GNWT, said health board meetings minutes are a hot item. Regional health boards, however, are not covered by the act, she said.

"You're not the first person who's made this inquiry," said Keenan-Bengts. "It been the most consistent inquiry in the last couple of months."

She added that minutes should be available if they are filed with the Department of Health and Social Services.

"Whether or not they give it to you, it's to their discretion," said Keenan-Bengts.