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SAANICHNEWS Friday, April 17, 2015
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No apology for spyware, but council OKs report Public calls for independent, external review unheeded; staff to address looming questions Daniel Palmer News staff
Photo by Kyle Slavin/St. Michaels University School
Textbook tackle St. Michaels Blue Jag Josh Graffi, bottom, upends an Oak Bay Barbarian with Owen Sudul, right, during the annual Rees Boot rugby game, held April 8 at the University of Victoria’s Wallace Field. The Barbarians trailed 22-0 at the half, but rallied to score 26 consecutive points for the 26-22 win. For upcoming rugby games, see Page A25.
Saanich council is embracing five recommendations made by B.C.’s privacy commissioner that address the municipality’s improper use of spyware on the mayor’s computer, but public calls for an external, independent investigation are going unheeded. On Monday night, Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell put forward nine motions to address a scathing report released last month by B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham on the District’s use of Spector 360, an employee monitoring software program that intrusively recorded keystrokes, screenshots and other information on 13 municipal computers. “Despite the fact the spyware was installed on my computer without my knowledge, and after only one day in office, which beleaguered by initial progress, we now have the opportunity to reset,” Atwell told the packed council chambers. Atwell hoped to offer public apologies to anyone who was known to be monitored using Spector 360, and to ask staff to detail how personal information collected using the spyware had been identified and destroyed. The report also set out to establish the duties of a dedicated privacy officer, who could then conduct an audit of the District’s IT systems and its compliance with the Freedom of Informa-
tion and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) within 60 days. “To date, I’ve only received minimal support regarding the spyware issue from some of my council colleagues, which has been disheartening,” Atwell said. “We will fully move ahead when we address the unanswered questions that have been left behind from the privacy commissioner’s report.” Coun. Judy Brownoff, who chaired the portion of the meeting that addressed Atwell’s report, began by reading to the sometimes boisterous crowd a statement on respectful workplaces. Soon after, Atwell tabled his report as the last agenda item of the evening. “It’s now clear from the commissioner’s report that serious mistakes were made following the election last November with the hurried and illegal installation of Spector 360,” Atwell said in his opening statement. “The public must be satisfied if we are to have their confidence going forward. … It’s our elected duty to restore public trust.” The report sparked a steady line of public speakers who expressed anger, disappointment and sadness at the spyware scandal. Most called for an independent, external investigation to address lingering questions left by the privacy commissioner’s report. PlEASE SEE: Council’s spyware discussion, Page A6
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