A resident has filed a formal complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner about concerns he has with the collection of private information at clinics hosted by a Toronto city councillor.
In a letter to Integrity Commissioner Janet Leiper, the complainant says he is concerned about Coun. Maria Augimeri’s staff photocopying “sensitive” documents, including tax assessments and bills, that belong to residents in the area.
The clinics, organized by the Ward 9 councillor, are meant to help constituents with their property tax and water bill rebates.
“Obviously, the highly private information should only be handled and processed by city staff, from the property tax and water bill departments, whose job it is to collect, handle and process such documents,” the letter read.
The letter’s author says that the flyer he received advertising the clinics made no mention of how residents can send the documents to the city themselves.
“The flyer may be considered misleading and some constituents may falsely understand that the only way to take (part) in these government programs is by attending these clinics and handing over private and sensitive personal documents,” he wrote.
In response to the complaint, Augimeri’s staff released a statement saying they do not retain any of the personal information in the documents but rather submit the photocopies to the appropriate city department directly.
"We have been holding these clinics for years,” Robert Andreacchi, the councillor’s chief of staff, wrote.
“We simply help people access these helpful programs that some wouldn't be able to otherwise.”
Andreacchi said the clinics are aimed at helping seniors, developmentally disabled residents and those with language barriers.
“We encourage anyone who qualifies in our Ward to attend one of our upcoming (clinics) and to get in contact with our office for more information,” he said.
