Prince George, B.C.- Mayor Dan Rogers was the first witness called to testify in the trial of Brian Skakun, who is accused of breaching the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act . 

At issue is the unauthorized release of a confidential report which found its way on to the CBC’s website in August of 2008.

Sworn in as Mayor in December of 2008,  he saw the report on the CBC’s website in August of that year. He testified he had not fully read the report until it was provided to him by a member of his election team who had downloaded the report from the web site. “I remember thinking, this is not good.” He told the court he was very surprised at the depth of personal information contained in the report.

Rogers explained there is a process which allows for confidential material to be moved to the public realm. He says there would be a reliance on administration to ensure private interests would be maintained.   Rogers says he first became aware of the investigation into the unauthorized release of the Heller report when he was briefed on issues facing the City when he was sworn in. 

He says the release of the document impacted the City in that when one of the people named in the report (Anne Bailey) was being replaced, there was a “financial consideration” meaning the City had to make a financial settlement. He also testified that since the Heller report incident the City has a new way of dealing with confidential documents in that they are handed out and  cannot be taken out of the meeting room,  such documents are no longer available to councillors on-line.