The Ministry of Public Security forgot documents containing confidential information about staff and inmates when it evacuated its Tanguay women’s prison in 2016.
Published at 1:04 am. Updated at 5:00 am.
These documents were freely accessible while the disused building in northern Montreal was subject to repeated break-ins. The presence of these files was also reported on social networks.
“In two uncrossed files there are files of employees of the correctional network, which contain personal data,” says a court order issued in the summer. “A box containing personal information about detained individuals was also discovered. »
The information leak was published back in December 2020, but it is the first time that so many details have been revealed.
The suspended ministry official responsible for this mistake, Koffi Doumon, is now fighting his employer to gain access to the investigation report into the incidents. The ministry refuses. An initial decision by the Commission for Access to Information (CAI) to resolve this dispute brings to light previously unknown facts.
In particular, it is known that it was retired employees who alerted the ministry to “reports circulating on social media that personal data had been found in the facility even though it was closed.” During an initial inspection of the premises, “DVD recordings” were also found.
Threats of prosecution
The Ministry of Public Security has launched an investigation into the situation.
“The investigation revealed that personal and confidential information was left behind after the facility was closed,” Vince Parente, director general of the Montreal Correctional Network, testified before the CAI. “The investigation found that certain factors contributed to the occurrence of this incident, chief among them being negligent actions [de M. Doumon], responsible for the move and closure of the facility. » In addition, recommendations were made to improve administrative processes.
The Department of Public Security has just suffered its first setback in its attempt to keep its report secret. His lawyers argued that it needed to be kept secret because it could potentially be used in litigation.
In addition, several of the “targets of [la violation de la] “The confidentiality breach had threatened the organization to file complaints and claim damages on the grounds that it had failed to protect the personal data in question,” the ministry argued.
The CAI noted that the report was prepared in the normal course of the ministry’s business and not in preparation for a trial, and rejected the ministry’s arguments. A further hearing will be held on the further reasons for rejection.
Koffi Doumon did not want to comment on the matter by telephone.
“Following the reviews, we are awaiting a hearing date before the CAI to continue the case,” said Louise Quintin, public relations officer at the Ministry of Public Security (MSP). To respect the legal process, the MSP will not be making a statement at this time. »