Employee arrested for leaking Tories' climate plan

[RedHot25]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/...t.html?ref=rss

The RCMP arrested an Environment Canada employee on Wednesday for allegedly leaking the federal government's draft climate change legislation.
In a statement, the Mounties said the male employee was arrested Wednesday morning for breach of trust under the Criminal Code.

....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...ional/National

The union of public workers described the arrest as an unprecedented "Draconian" measure, while opposition critics and civil libertarians said it could discourage whistle-blowers from reporting irregular practices in government.

...

But he was later released without being charged, further fuelling speculation that the Conservative government called in the national police force to intimidate bureaucrats.

"When you have a colleague that's put in handcuffs and marched out the door, it clearly says that this government's command-and-control structure and shutting down the truth is going to continue on other issues as well," New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton told reporters in the lobby of the House of Commons.
...

In this case, the employee is alleged to have leaked policy information to the media without authorization, Mr. Baird said.
"I don't think there's any suggestion that this was involving a whistle-blower," the minister said. "Someone on an unauthorized basis leaked something, sensitive information, anonymously."

[CaptainCrunch]

This wasn't a heroic whistle blower, this was a person who leaked sensitive policy information to the press, and probably for money.

You have to have some loyalty, if it was a document that put into motion the elimination of rabbits via home flame thrower kits, and the government was spending 600 billion on it thats one thing.

Too me this is no different then leaking battleplans to the enemy.

[Slava]

Was it even the right information though? It seems to me that everyone in industry was worried about the new legislation only to be relieved when it was actually announced.

[Bobblehead]

He wasn't revealing any government wrongdoing, he leaked a policy document.

I agree with CC, although the leaking of battleplans to the enemy is over the top. More leaking of the Stamps gameplan to the Esks.

He deserves to be fired but I'm not sure a criminal record is warranted (unless he was paid for this information - then he profited and throw the book at him)