Central Saanich Hires Lawyers to Hide Legal Bill from Lawyers, and McHattie Farm FOI Requests Triggers Escalation, Intimidation, and a $1,410 Barrier by Barry McLean

Central Saanich Hires Lawyers to Hide Legal Bill from Lawyers, and McHattie Farm FOI Requests Triggers Escalation, Intimidation, and a $1,410 Barrier

Barry McLean
July 16, 2025

Saanichton, BC – When Barry McLean asked how much the District of Central Saanich spent litigating a failed case against the McHattie farm, a long-established family-owned agricultural property located on ALR land, the District didn’t provide an answer, they hired lawyers. Specifically, the same law firm that lost the case: Young Anderson LLP.

McLean’s June 24, 2025 FOI request sought transparency around public funds spent pursuing two failed legal actions against a family farm on protected ALR land. Instead of disclosing records, the District responded with a $1,410 fee estimate, a refusal based on solicitor-client privilege, and a formal ‘communication protocol’ suggesting his inquiries might violate workplace policy.

“I asked for the legal bill, and they sent me the lawyers who generated it,” said McLean. “If that’s not a deliberate attempt to silence accountability, I don’t know what is.”

The District previously claimed that no records existed while simultaneously estimating 50 hours of search time. This contradiction, paired with legal escalation, is now the subject of formal complaints to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) and a submission to the BC Ombudsperson.

“This isn’t the first FOI I’ve submitted to uncover the cost of litigating the McHattie farm, but it’s the first time they tried to make me feel like a criminal for asking,” McLean added.

McLean has since filed an additional FOI, this time requesting the legal fees Central Saanich incurred to retain Young Anderson LLP for the purpose of responding to the second FOI. That file is pending.

The District is expected to cite Section 14 of FIPPA, “solicitor-client privilege,” as justification.

But critics argue this is a misapplication of the law, intended more to conceal political fallout than protect legal strategy.

“FIPPA allows privilege claims, it doesn’t require them,” McLean said. “Section 14 wasn’t written to protect embarrassment. They’ll release the bill when they win. But if they lose? Suddenly it’s privileged. That’s not transparency – that’s government malfeasance.

—————————————————————————————————

If you would like to reach out to Barry McLean to discuss your farm experiences with central saanich or any other crd municipality email blmcleanfarm@gmail.com