Nova Scotia FOIPOP Review Officer resigns after not being reappointed

Dulcie McCallum has resigned as Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer, effective next week. Here's the message from her, released today:

Message from Dulcie McCallum

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer

January 31, 2014

On January 17, 2014, I was advised by the government of Nova Scotia that it had elected not to offer me reappointment for another term as the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy [“FOIPOP”] Review Officer which was an option available to it under the statute. Therefore I am announcing my departure from my position as Nova Scotia’s FOIPOP Review Officer is effective Tuesday February 4, 2014.

I was honoured to be appointed in 2007 as the first female FOIPOP Review Officer for Nova Scotia and in 2009 as Nova Scotia's first Privacy Review Officer. During my term, the oversight role of FOIPOP Review Officer was significantly expanded to include privacy under the Privacy Review Officer Act and access and privacy under the Personal Health Information Act. I have thoroughly enjoyed my seven year tenure in this position particularly having the support and collaboration of my Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Access and Privacy Commissioner colleagues and being part of the effective and vibrant team at the FOIPOP Review Office.

I am most proud of how much our small team of only six people has accomplished over the past seven years: tabled six Annual Reports with the House of Assembly to which the FOIPOP Review Officer reports, received over 8,500 inquiries, opened 716 Reviews, closed 521 investigations, 314 of which were informally resolved or mediated, issued 62 public and private Review Reports, built up a body of best practices and hosted the 2012 Annual Summit of the Canadian Access and Privacy Commissioners for the first time in Nova Scotia.

My Director Ms. Carmen Stuart will be appointed as Acting FOIPOP Review Officer effective February 5, 2014. I am confident she will meet this challenge while a search is conducted for the new FOIPOP Review Officer. I trust that my team and I were able to effectively serve the access and privacy interests of Nova Scotians during this seven year period. In particular, the applicants who entrusted us with their Requests for Review and the public bodies, municipalities and health custodians who worked with my office to diligently protect the rights of access and privacy. Thank you for being given the opportunity to make a contribution to Nova Scotia’s public service.