A councillor has misplaced a computer memory stick that contains four years worth of in-camera meeting minutes and potentially other sensitive information related to the municipality, says the District of Lantzville.
According to a press release, Coun. John Coulson lost a flash drive that could contain information about individuals and their dealings with the district between 2014 and 2018. The district is advising anyone who had correspondence with Coulson and provided him with documentation or information considered sensitive or confidential to watch for any unexpected or improper use of that information.
Ronald Campbell, the district’s chief administrative officer, said an investigation has begun and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has been notified.
“Our biggest issue is the protection of privacy, because really what he has are district records,” Campbell told the News Bulletin. “It is up to the district to try and notify and try and find out what breaches there are if any.”
It isn’t entirely clear what kind of information has been lost, but Campbell said Coulson told him the memory stick contained in-camera meeting minutes going as far back as April 2014.
“According to [Coulson], it’s all on the memory stick,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the district is attempting to identify what kind of information has been lost, adding that they are sifting through years worth of records to determine who has been impacted.
“As we are speaking right now, we have somebody going through all those in-camera meeting minutes to as far back as April 2014,” he said.
Trudy Coates, district director of corporate administration, said all councillors have access to in-camera meeting minutes. She has not received any phone calls from individuals regarding the loss of information yet.
Individuals who have corresponded with Coulson and believe they provided him with sensitive information can contact the district by calling 250-390-4006.
Coulson could not be reached for comment prior to online publication.