I have two Mr. Speaker. The first one is in response to a question asked by Mr. Nerysoo, on September 11, on the use of court sealed documents. The Member asked me to clarify whether sealed court documents are not to be publicly utilized or transmitted until the court proceedings have been addressed.
On the Member's question, and the previous discussion in the Assembly, I can clarify what has not been sealed in the court action by the doctor against the Fort Smith Medical Centre Board of Management. It is my understanding that the court documents which have been filed to date have been sealed, but that a copy of the Report of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, has not been filed with the court.
When a court file is sealed it is in the custody of the court and is closed to the public and cannot be examined except by court order. Sealing of documents in a court file will not affect use of any copies available elsewhere, unless the court has made some order with respect to the use of them. In other words, a court order sealing its file is not the same as an order for non-publication of information or documents, or an order respecting confidentiality of documents or information.
Sealing only protects access to information, or documents, being gained from the court file. If the information or documents are available elsewhere, then access from these other sources would be governed by whatever rules, policies, discretion, or laws, that relate to these other sources. Thank you.