On compulsive secrecy

The Star-Phoenix editorial board rightly slams the Wall government for hiding a death in custody as long as it could:

There was a time when provincial Corrections officials felt responsible enough for the people in their care that they realized it is news whenever a prisoner dies in custody.

Not any more. Now, if they are lucky enough, the media must depend on inside sources, leaks or accidental admissions to get timely access to information about a death.

Let's be clear here. Nothing that a government does on behalf of the citizens it serves is more sensitive than depriving people of their freedom. Whether these are prisoners or children apprehended for their own protection, it is done on behalf of us all.

And when someone dies under these circumstances, it is the responsibility of those in charge to inform citizens immediately.
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Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Yogi Huyghebaert and his ministry already have done much to erode public confidence in the way the ministry conducts its business. From refusing to notify the public when potentially dangerous offenders have been released in error, to conducting witch hunts and firing employees who potentially blew the whistle on these mistakes, it is difficult to trust that Corrections officials have the interests of society in mind at the best of times.

This is further exacerbated by having a minister threaten opposition MLAs with police investigations for raising such matters in the legislature.
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Until (the ministry reverses course), Saskatchewan residents can't be confident they know who, or even how many persons, apprehended on their behalf are dying. It is hard to imagine a topic that should be less private.