We’re getting closer, but we’re wondering how much longer this is going to take.
It’s coming up on three years since we submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Pembina Hills school division looking for information concerning former Supt. Richard Harvey’s departure.
All we were told at the time was he was no longer an employee, and since then the division closed ranks and wouldn’t even tell us whether he quit or was fired.
In addition, while we’ve been waiting to learn under what circumstances Harvey left the division, we’ve learned he’s been charged with fraud over $5,000 for submitting false expense claims.
Jokes are often made about how the wheels of justice turn slowly, but this is a case where the justice system has managed to run an investigation and lay charges faster than it’s taken the school division to answer two very basic questions — “Was Harvey fired?” and “Why?”
While all the dots have not been officially connected, it would not be a stretch to put the pieces together.
But we just can’t say that with any certainty until either we receive the information we’ve requested from Pembina Hills, or the court case has run its course … whichever comes first.
And at this point, given how long we’ve been negotiating for the information from Pembina Hills, it truly is a case of “whichever comes first,” because it’s like watching two snails race — they’re both moving, yes, but neither is moving particularly fast.
At this point, this entire adventure is not one the taxpayer should be enjoying.
Harvey is alleged to have bilked taxpayers out of a considerable sum of money.
In fighting against our request for a fee waiver to access the information we have requested, Pembina Hills has brought in a lawyer to argue the division’s case, on the taxpayer’s dime.
Adjudicator Wade Raaflaub is also being paid from the public purse to do his job.
Two years later, a simple question remains unanswered. Countless thousands of dollars have been spent fighting to keep those simple questions unanswered.
So, how much longer is this going to take?
