Sask. government rejects privacy commissioner's recommendation to release Husky pipeline records

The Saskatchewan government has rejecteda recommendationfrom the provincial privacy commissioner to release records and information aboutHusky Energy pipeline inspections.

In a report focused onthe Ministry of the Economy, the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner says the government should not have withheld records in response to an access to information request.

• Husky's oil pipeline broke due to ground movement, report says
• Husky oil spill continues to affect cities' drinking water

On July 21, about 200,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with another petroleum product spilled into the North Saskatchewan River from a Husky pipeline nearLloydminster, Sask.

The cities of Prince Albert,MelfortandNorthBattlefordhad to temporarilyshut down their drinking water intake from the river and find other means to supply their residents with drinking water.

The opposition NDP's access to information request made on July 25asked for "all results from on-site tests and inspections of Husky pipelines since 2011."

The Ministry denied the request, saying it was withholding the records under subsections 15(1)(a), (b) and (c) and 17 (1)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It later said it was no longer relying on subsections 17 (1)(a) and (b).

• Husky Energy to bump up capital spending, daily production in 2017

The NDPapplied to havethe privacy commissioner Ronald Kruzeniskireview the Ministry's response.

In his subsequent report, released to the opposition on Monday, Kruzensiski wrote thatsubsection15(1)(a), (b) and (c) didnot apply to the record. Those sections largely pertain to potential impacts on investigations, and the commissioner said releasing the information wouldn't preclude the province from prosecuting Husky, or unduly sway an investigator should a prosecution take place.

He recommended the documentsbe released.

No records to be released: province

But the provincial government said in a statement on Monday it would not be releasing the records.

It said one of the purposes of its investigation into the Husky oil spill was to examine the company's "integrity management practices."

It said that would include looking into whether the company complies with the applicable standards.

"Previous inspection and audit reports relating to the performance of a pipeline are relevant to this aspect of the investigation," said the response.

"It is important to the integrity of the investigation that information is not released in a manner that may adversely affect the investigation."

• Saskatchewan expands pipeline inspections in wake of Husky oil spill

In a report released on Nov. 17, Husky said the pipeline ruptured due to ground movement fromgeotechnicalactivity.