Details of controversial P.E.I. immigrant program will remain private
Provincial Nominee Program offered Canadian visas to immigrants who invested $200,000 on the Island with some of the money going to companies who hired the immigrants
The Canadian Press, June 4, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/atlantic/details-of-controversial-pei-immigrant-program-wil
l-remain-private/article1592067/?cmpid=rss1
Prince Edward Island's privacy commissioner has ruled against releasing the list of businesses that benefited from a program intended to boost immigration.
Judith Haldemann says she can't release the company names or financial information that was filed in confidence and could hurt a company's competitive position.
The Provincial Nominee Program offered Canadian visas to immigrants who invested $200,000 on the Island and companies could apply for a portion of that money.
The program was suspended by the federal government in 2008 after P.E.I. violated some of the program rules, and there has been much speculation since about who benefited from the program.
Five current and one former member of the legislature got PNP funds for their private businesses while in office.
Ms. Haldemann says she had four requests for the information, while hundreds of third parties sought to have the information remain confidential.
