Murray Langdon Comment
Jun 22, 2009
The sudden resignation of federal Information Commissioner Robert Marleau is cause for concern. Only two years into a seven-year tenure, Mr. Marleau is citing “entirely personal reasons” for his departure.
A career political man, Mr. Marleau was no stranger to the world of bureaucracy after a 13-year stint as Clerk of the House of Commons.
Should we believe that there is nothing other than a desire to spend more time with his wife and grand-children? If we take the man’s words at face value, then no. He deserves to call his own shots after such a lengthy career in public service.
But don’t you find it surprising that Mr. Marleau, who knew full well what he was signing up for – including the term of employment – is walking away from a job he showed great such a great appetite for?
It was only two weeks ago when Mr. Marleau’s annual report stung the government with criticism for overly long waits, delays and excessive costs to Canadians to retrieve information they more often than not had every right to access.
Mr. Marleau highlighted the lack of a transparent culture, calling on the head of the Treasury Board to stop stonewalling information requests.
His report showed many Canadians were angry and fed up with the seemingly never-ending hunt they were forced to endure in trying to access information. Of the 1000-plus complaints to his office, the commissioner found nearly two-thirds had merit. Not a government’s finest hour, particularly one that spouted on endlessly about transparency and accountability.
Now, Mr. Marleau is leaving. I hate to say it but I find it entirely suspicious. One might think that after yet another admonishment was quickly ignored, he has decided a seven-year term as commissioner would be more like a seven-year sentence and packed it in. Just so you know this is Canada’s fourth Information Commissioner.
Hopefully, if there is a deeper reason Mr. Marleau is packing it in, he shares it with us. It will be of benefit to know why someone of his caliber is walking away from such an important position, so early into his appointment.
