In keeping with previous "freedom of information buffet" posts, here are some more responses I received from various government bodies...

1) Fire Hall Museum or Nuclear Weapons Lab? - Given the high level of secrecy around the new Portage Ave fire hall in Winnipeg (remember - this is the one located in a traffic cloverleaf and the city won't disclose the traffic study behind it), I'm beginning to think there's more to the site than meets the eye...a nuclear weapons lab perhaps? 

In all seriousness, the latest bizarre move by the city was to refuse to release all details related to the museum that was proposed for the site. Apparently it's all 'confidential.' Click here to see the city's response.

2) Police HQ Tidbits - The City of Winnipeg recently provided the names of the firms who received security clearance for working on the new police headquarters (click here to view.) I was a bit surprised by the disclosure as the city has been refusing all other requests related to the Police HQ project, using the pending audit as a reason for refusal. For example, the city refused to release the meeting dates of the new HQ's steering committee as well as the names of those who attended the meetings - click here to view (scroll.)

3) FIPPA Blackout Reminder - Last year an email from Manitoba's Deputy Premier (Eric Robinson) to a staffer was obtained by someone outside government using the Freedom of Information Act.

The email was released to the media and caused quite the stir as the department had attempted to black out some embarrassing language used by the Minister, but had failed to use a proper black marker; allowing the applicant to notice the Deputy Premier refer to the "ignorance of do-good white people" in a discussion related to Osborne House, a local women's shelter. 

Not long after that news broke, we released some documents from Manitoba Hydro (obtained by a contact) that also were 'blacked out,' yet transparent.

After those two events, many joked the government would be scrambling to buy new black markers. Well, to make a long story short, I followed up to see what happened on the inside of government after those two events and here's what was disclosed - click here.