Access to Information

NewfoundlandLabrador wants access to AbitibiBowater's files. CP reports:

MONTREAL — The Newfoundland and Labrador government has asked a Quebec court to force AbitibiBowater to provide it access to the insolvent company's data room to keep tabs on its financial health as a creditor.

The province said it is being "unfairly discriminated" by AbitibiBowater's refusal to afford it access to information that allows stakeholders and creditors to assess the ongoing condition of Abitibi's business.

[...]

Newfoundland said it has a public duty to keep tabs on Abitibi's present and future potential ability to compensate the province for costs incurred. That can only be done if it can make its own assessment about Abitibi's financial status in the same way as the company's other creditors and stakeholders, it told the court in a motion.

Memo to AbitibiBowater: just dismiss their request as "frivolous", "ridiculous", and "ludicrous", and complain about how much it would tie up your staff's precious time.