Nova Scotia premier says he prefers phone over email to conduct business

McNeil said being able to have those kinds of unfettered discussions is part of running government and not an attempt to circumvent freedom of information laws.

McNeil said the government does make all information available around issues that eventually become public policy.

“Every public policy is documented … we make it public,” he said. “But we have to have the ability to talk about policy that may never come to light and we need to be able to debate that amongst ourselves.”

Tully said while there is no law against using the phone, documents should exist that explain the “decisions, actions and deliberations” of government.

She said the duty to document is an issue that is being dealt with in provinces such as British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

“There is nothing wrong with what he (McNeil) is saying from a legal perspective but from a modernization perspective, from a healthy, vibrant right to access perspective it’s not best practice,” Tully said.

Opposition Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said the idea that McNeil doesn’t want to defend some issues publicly is “insulting to Nova Scotians.”

“Quite frankly it’s part of his job to defend the decisions he makes whether it’s to do something or not to do something,” said Baillie.

He said he worries about the message the premier is sending to those that work for him.

“He’s now basically told the entire public service to get off email when they want to talk to him and get onto the phone where the duty to document can’t be accomplished. That’s a problem.”

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Nova Scotia premier says he prefers phone over email to conduct business

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