Goring Oxen

Thank heavens for unions, professional groups of related interests who are always prepared to support their members.  The Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa has made it known that they are in complete support of Professor Amir Attaran in his outrage against the university's administration in acceding to an order from the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review research-related expense reports of the good professor.

It is always good to know that one does not stand alone in one's outrage; isolated, vulnerable and forlorn.  Friends and supporters are always heartily appreciated.

The university professional union wishes to be recognized as an intervenor on behalf of Professor Attaran.  One of their very own.  Feeling themselves rather put out that the production order was respected by university administrator Diane Davidson whose decision it was to release the requested information about research expenses.

"Anything a professor does that falls within his research responsibilities, that is not subject to a freedom of information request.  That right needs to be protected:  academic freedom is essential to conducting research", huffed political science professor Christian Rouillard, president of the association.

Sounds sensible.  Can that be further expanded to reflect the political sphere?  Say, for example, a prime minister and his cabinet, and by extension, the country's military and its foreign affairs unit? 

All of whom came under constant fire from law professor Amir Attaran, insisting that the very same Information and Privacy Commission make available to him documents that the Government of Canada preferred not to release. After all, it is rather a serious business when a country is at war. 

A country elects their lawmakers and trusts them to make honest decisions that will reflect to the benefit of the country, while maintaining the ideals of democracy and sound judgement.  If we cannot trust our elected officials to be trustworthy and prosecute the affairs of the country with honour and dignity, we vote them out of office.

That old adage, that what is good for the goose is good for the gander certainly applies in instances such as this. 

Professor Attaran's privacy is no more sacred than is the security of top-level secret documents meant to be seen and discussed by those authorized for that purpose.  He and his defenders can claim that there should not exist classified documents that cannot be perused by such as he.

On the other hand, what makes him feel that his personal information, of value to himself alone, would be threatened through having been viewed by curious eyes?