2014
R v. Skakun to be heard at the Court of Appeal in April 2014
In May 2011, Mr. Skakun, a councillor of the City of Prince George, was convicted for a breach of section 30.4 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the “FIPPA”). He released a copy of a confidential workplace harassment report to the CBC, which he received at a closed council meeting. The trial judge found that a municipal councillor is an “officer…of a public body” and since Mr. Skakun disclosed the confidential information without authorization, he was guilty. In March 2013, the B.C. Court of Appeal decided to grant leave to appeal to Mr. Skakun. The Court acknowledged that the proposed ground of appeal is a matter of statutory interpretation and that this will be the first time the Court will address the role of a municipal councillor in the context of the FIPPA.
R v. Skakun is scheduled to be heard at the B.C. Court of Appeal on April 24, 2014. We will keep you posted on the development of this case.