Commissioner tells Saskatchewan to release oil pipeline inspection test results

Saskatchewan's privacy commissioner says the government should release on-site test and inspection results of Husky Energy pipelines done since 2011, but the province says that's not going to happen.

Commissioner Ron Kruzeniski said in a report that he doesn't believe releasing the records would interfere with the government's investigation into Husky's July oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River.

The Ministry of Economy said an early release of documents could result in media coverage and other public pressure for the government to impose penalties or make decisions before all of the information is considered.

The ministry also indicated that release of records might interfere with a right to a fair trial if charges are ultimately laid.

The Opposition NDP had requested the test and inspection information on July 11 — only days before a Husky pipeline burst and leaked about 225,000 litres of heavy crude oil and diluent into the river.

The government refused the request, which prompted the NDP to ask the privacy commissioner to weigh in.

Kruzeniski said there would be nothing wrong with releasing factual information.

"I am not persuaded that an investigator would conclude an investigation based solely on news reports," he said Monday.

"There are many examples where publicity is given to an incident and after an investigation, charges are laid."

He said good investigators would not be swayed by publicity and would base their conclusions on facts.

"Further, I am not persuaded that this would lead to an unfair trial."

The ministry also suggested that Husky might not co-operate with the investigation if the records are released.

Kruzeniski said he doesn't buy that argument either.

He said pipeline legislation requires license holders to provide information to the ministry upon request and the records existed before the investigation started on Aug. 15.

Late Monday afternoon, the government said it will not release the information.

"One of the purposes of the Husky oil spill investigation is to examine the integrity management practices of the company. This includes a determination of whether the company complies with all applicable standards and responsibilities," the government said in an email.

"Previous inspection and audit reports relating to the performance of a pipeline are relevant to this aspect of the investigation. It is important to the integrity of the investigation that information is not released in a manner that may adversely affect the investigation."

The government's report on the investigation into the spill is expected early next year.

Last month, Husky Energy released its own report into the spill and said that shifting ground was to blame for the pipeline burst.

The leak forced the cities of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort to shut off their water intakes from the river and find other water sources for almost two months.

Husky said it has spent about $90 million responding to the spill, and wrapped up shoreline clean-up efforts in October after recovering about 210,000 litres of what spilled.