Ottawa city debtors listed online

CBC NEWS Thursday, August 27, 2009 | 9:09 AM ET

A confidential list of people and companies who owe money to the City of Ottawa was unintentionally posted online Wednesday. The city's access to information and privacy office must now conduct an investigation and submit a report to Ontario's information and privacy commissioner, as the information involved is protected under provincial privacy law.

The 19 companies and 376 individuals listed owe the city a total of more than $200,000, which the city has been unable to collect and plans to write off. The list, clearly marked "confidential," was posted on the City of Ottawa's public website Wednesday afternoon, attached to an item on the agenda for the Sept. 1 corporate services committee meeting, which has since been cancelled. Someone noticed the breach and contacted Ontario's information and privacy commissioner, who contacted the city. Later Wednesday afternoon, the list and the entire meeting agenda were removed from the city's website. Someone noticed the breach and contacted Ontario's information and privacy commissioner, who contacted the city. Later Wednesday afternoon, the list and the entire meeting agenda were removed from the city's website. In a memo to Ottawa's mayor and city council late Wednesday, city clerk Rick O'Connor said the breach was the result of "human error in his office. "He said everyone on the list will be notified of the breach if the city is able to track them down.