THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Police Services Board has raised concerns that a member of the board has leaked confidential information to major media outlets.
Board secretary John Hannam said “leaks” had been a recurring issue as the board faced increased media scrutiny, after revelations have emerged of internal disarray and alleged misconduct by senior leadership, including chief Sylvie Hauth, which have prompted an independent investigation.
All board members, along with Hannam, are also named in human rights complaints filed by fellow board member and former chair Georjann Morriseau.
At a board meeting Tuesday, Hannam presented a memo he had solicited from Principles Integrity, the board’s recently-retained integrity commissioner. The document warns members of the board could face serious consequences for sharing confidential information.
“As board members will be aware, several times over the last few months, and certainly over the last week or so, there have been media reports that have directly referenced confidential documents presented to this board in closed session,” Hannam said. “So we have a problem, to get to the point.”
According to the memo, Hannam’s concerns stem from two articles published in the Globe and Mail on Feb. 8 and Feb. 10.
Information in those articles “suggest[s] that a member of the board has breached the board’s confidentiality,” the memo reads.
Those include a reference to a confidential letter from Hauth to the board dated Nov. 10, 2021, in which she informed the police board that she had stepped down from a committee overseeing reinvestigations of nine local deaths involving Indigenous people, given concerns of serious shortcomings in initial investigations by the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The second alleged leak involved a reference to documents presented at a closed session board meeting in December.
Hannam suggested the two examples are part of a larger “series” of leaks, the memo states.
Principles Integrity concluded the examples, if proven, would constitute a serious breach of members’ obligations.
“The inappropriate disclosure of confidential information coupled with attempts to influence media coverage of the matter is concerning,” the memo reads.
“The requirement to follow the rule is unequivocal. A breach of the obligation to maintain confidentiality can sustain a complaint that Rule No. 4 of the statutory Code of Conduct has been breached.”
Any board member found to have released confidential information “would risk adverse findings and a recommendation for the severest of available penalties,” the memo continues.
“I think it’s important for all board members to recognize we do have an oath we have taken and a duty to serve and protect the integrity of the investigation process,” said board chair Kristen Oliver. “It is confidential, and we need to respect that.”
No other board members commented on the memo on Tuesday.
Note: An earlier version of this article stated that board member Georjann Morriseau appeared to be absent for Tuesday's meeting. In fact, according to secretary John Hannam, Morriseau was present for part of the meeting.
