Sharing info on Saskatoon care aide who complained broke privacy rules: report

Privacy commissioner Ronald Kruzeniski says Oliver Lodge, The Saskatoon Health Region and the ministry did not have any legal authority to release the information.

But he also says privacy legislation does not apply to the health minister or the premier – both of whom also made the information public.

Peter Bowden was recently fired from his job at Oliver Lodge.

He was first suspended with pay last spring after he told reporters that seniors at the nursing home were being left in soiled diapers and bed linens for up to 10 hours.

He raised concerns with the privacy commissioner about his employment information being shared with the media after he first spoke out in March.

Kruzeniski has recommended that Oliver Lodge, the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority and the Ministry of Health apologize to Bowden.

He also suggests the three parties develop polices to help determine when it is appropriate to request and disclose personal information.

The privacy commissioner would also like to see protection of personal information extended to MLAs and members of executive council.

Premier Brad Wall issued a statement Tuesday that said the government accepts the recommendations.

“While I continue to believe that the disclosure of some information by my office was in the public interest, these events have shown there is a lack of clarity and understanding when it comes to when and how personal information can be collected and disclosed,” Wall said.

“We will be working to improve that clarity and understanding through the commissioner’s recommendations.”

Bowden believes he was fired for speaking out, but the health region said his termination was not related to his allegations.

The province has said that Bowden’s initial suspension was because of a probe into allegations of misconduct in the workplace.