VANCOUVER: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation's (CTF) appeal to examine the survey results that backed up the decision to hike MLA base pay by 30% and return gold-plated pensions was denied by the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner.

"We should able to scrutinize the reasoning behind any decision to go ahead with a pay increase that was 100% higher than an amount rejected two years before," said Maureen Bader, BC Director of the CTF. "The New Era commitment to open and accountable government is meaningless without access to information as basic as this."

Between February 23 and April 23, 2007, the Independent Commission to Review MLA Compensation conducted a telephone survey of 601 adults residing in the province. An on-line survey was distributed to each of the 79 MLAs, with a response rate of 49%. The Commission held interviews with 44 current and 11 former MLAs.

The CTF's request was denied under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) because the Act does not apply to records in the custody or under control of the Legislative Assembly. However, it was the Premier's Office that tasked the Independent Commission to Review MLA Compensation and report back to the Legislative Assembly, therefore the committee should be considered a public body and the report should be made available.

"The CTF is calling upon Premier Gordon Campbell to come clean on the process and release the survey results," said Bader.