Vancouver, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Ministry of Children and Family Development to explain why it’s imposing a fee of $1,110 to disclose documents about money it’s spending on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

“It’s hard to imagine why the Ministry for Children and Family would buy cigarettes and other tobacco products, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for the bureaucracy to make taxpayers pay to get the documents,” said Carson Binda, CTF B.C. Director. “It is deeply disturbing that staff say it’ll take staff 40 hours just to find all the tobacco receipts from the Children’s Ministry.” 

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation filed a freedom of information request asking for records showing how much money the ministry has spent on tobacco or tobacco products. 

Instead of providing the information, the ministry responded by demanding the CTF pay $1,110 because it would take 40 staff hours to locate and retrieve the responsive records. 

The CTF applied for a fee waiver, arguing the information is clearly in the public interest to be disclosed. The ministry partially conceded and reduced the fee to $555. 

The CTF is pursuing further legal action to force full disclosure of the records, without cost.

“The ministry clearly agrees that it’s in the public’s interest to know how much tobacco is being bought by the Children’s Ministry,” Binda said. “Minister Jodie Wickens must immediately release these records and be open with taxpayers.” 

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