posted on February 28, 2009

Secret draft highlights agency's strategy

Transportation agency urged to 'salt' public sessions with supporters to avoid having its plans hijacked

By: JEFF GRAY
Published: February 27, 2009
Source: The Globe and Mail

A confidential draft of a Metrolinx communications strategy advised the province's Toronto-area transportation agency to "salt" its public consultation sessions with supporters in order to avoid having its plans "hijacked by nimbies or local politicians on the make."

The Globe and Mail obtained most of the document through a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. But one paragraph from the eight-page draft strategy, drawn up in advance of Metrolinx's 25-year plan released last year, was withheld under an exemption in the act for "advice to government."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090227.METROLINX27/TPStory