by According to the data protection officer of Nunavut, the family of a researcher of the University of Alberta, who died near Grise Fiord, the investigation report on her death for the public wants.
Maya Bhatia, a biogeochemist and deputy professor at the university’s science faculty, died on August 16, 2023 after an incident against Jackman Glacier.
In a report that was published last week, Graham Steele, the Territory Information and Data Protection Officer, the Security and Remuneration Commission (WSCC) for the employee and compensation (WSCC) and a witness statement of a member of another research team in Grise Fiord passed .
Steele was asked to check the WSCC’s decision, not to publish the documents after someone submitted an access to information request for the report and other relevant documents in August 2024.
He did not agree with the argument of the WSCC that the release of the documents for the intellectual or physical health of a person could be harmful and that information about possible mistakes made of Bhatia were freed from the disclosure because they were against their privacy were injured.
As part of his review, said Steele, he contacted members of the Bhatiens family and found that they were “unanimously and clear” that the investigation report should be published publicly.
“They believe that it would be a meaningful result from their tragic loss if the security rules for field research were strengthened. They want teachings from the death of their relatives to be brought in the hope that life can be saved and avoided. , he wrote.
“They fear that the non -publication of the investigation report will affect this result.”
Steele said the author of the witness declaration also agreed to disclose.
In an e -mail declaration, the WSCC said that it “supports” the recommendations of the commissioners. It was not said when it would publish the investigation report, but said that it “worked on a timeline”.
