Saskatchewan privacy commissioner Gary Dickson says a government decision to not hire new staff for his office will ultimately diminish accountability in the province. (Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner)

Saskatchewan's privacy commissioner is speaking out over the government's refusal to hire an extra investigator for his office for the third year in a row.

Gary Dickson, head of the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner said on Monday that despite a rise in demand from the public for the office's services — and a corresponding hike in wait times — he'll now be forced to make cutbacks.

It will now take even longer for cases to be resolved, Dickson told CBC News. Citizens requesting an investigation or a review will be getting letters notifying them of delays.

"Now it's a question of trying to deal with public expectation," Dickson said.

"We're trying to alert the public that if we get a new file in, a new breach of privacy complaint, or a review of an access [to information] denial, we're not going to be able to get to that — for hopefully sooner — but it could be a year to year and a half wait," Dickson said.

Dickson, a former Alberta MLA, said since the government's privacy commissioner's office was turned into a full-time venture in late 2003, the number of requests from the public for assistance have skyrocketed:

• Reviews and complaints are up 113 per cent over 2008 levels.
• Opinions to public agencies and health trustees are up 26 per cent in the same period.
• General inquiries from the public, public agencies and health trustees are up 14 per cent since 2008.

The privacy commissioner's office enforces three pieces of provincial legislation: The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Health Information Protection Act.

Dickson said the ideal wait time for his office to handle a case is five months. In some other Canadian provinces, legislation limits wait times to 90 days, he said.

In a statement issued Monday, Dickson said the office is staffed by three investigators carrying an open caseload of 376 reviews and investigations.

He added that the government's decision to not increase his staff "will diminish accountability of public bodies to the people of Saskatchewan."

Justice minister defends decision

The government's Board of Internal Economy was tasked with making the decision. Justice Minister Don Morgan, who is a member of the board, defended the decision to not hire more staff for the commissioner's office.

"We're dealing in difficult economic times," Morgan said.

"So where there is budget pressures, before we increase money or commit more resources, we want to look for efficiencies and other ways we can do it."

Morgan added that he was not implying that Dickson's office isn't efficient in its work.