File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: TRU’s claims about commitment to transparency aren’t convincing

Mar 27, 2024 | 5:55 AM

A LITTLE MORE than a year ago, TRU was in the midst of a major controversy over allegations made against two of its senior administrators.

It was big news. Dozens of claims of bullying, sexual harassment and disrespect were made, and the university launched a lengthy and very expensive — $1 million — investigation.

When it was done, one of the administrators was fully exonerated; the other had left the university. TRU released parts of the report but not all of it.

Board of governors chair Marilyn McLean said at the time the complete report couldn’t be released because of B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. “Specifically,” she said, “Section 22 limits the type of information that public bodies can release to safeguard the privacy of individuals.”

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McLean further stated, “This is not a public inquiry. These matters involve individuals and issues related to their employment. As such, the report and findings are protected.”

Yet, on Monday, the full report was suddenly released. The justification is now a different section of FIPPA, Section 25(1)(b), which says public bodies including universities must disclose “without delay” any information that is “clearly in the public interest.”

One could easily argue that if it’s in the public interest now to release the full report, it was even more in the public interest to release it a year ago. But TRU justifies this switch based on continued “public apprehension about the investigation, the report and the findings.”

Well, OK. The release of the full report probably won’t completely stifle questions and rumours — especially since most of the names are still redacted — though it will, no doubt, help, even if it wasn’t exactly “without delay.”

However, add TRU President Brett Fairbairn’s ill-timed and ridiculous decision to stall the release of backup materials for senate and board meetings to keep the media from doing advance stories, and the university’s administration has some convincing to do about its commitment to transparency.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.