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The commissioner has also been hindered by a November 2016 Supreme Court ruling that the wording of current provincial legislation does not give her the power to compel public bodies to produce records for her office to review when solicitor-client privilege has been claimed.

“It’s easier said than done when it comes to any work.” — Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley

In a separate report, Clayton has called on the NDP government to amend the legislation to give her office that capacity — a power that had long been recognized by the province until recent years — but the province has given no signal on how it will proceed.

The situation has left her concerned she is unable to fully perform her duties

“I am fearful that nothing’s going to happen,” Clayton said in a recent interview.

“It’s impossible to imagine how citizens can hold a government to account, how they can engage fully in a democracy, if they’re not able to get information, and a big piece of that is to have independent, objective and effective oversight.”

Clayton acknowledges she expected better from the NDP when the Notley government took office, noting the political interference probe was prompted in part by complaints from the New Democrats when they were in opposition.

“I thought that with a change of government, perhaps we would see a different approach. I think I can say that, yes, I was surprised that that did not happen,” she said.

The most recent issues raised by Clayton follow reports she issued in February warning of “unacceptable” delays in processing information requests and a “lack of respect” for access to information among some senior officials within the civil service.