CANADA: Restaurants revealed

14.mar.08
The Telegram
Peter Walsh
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=117407&sc=79

The Telegram in Newfoundland has, according to this story, obtained the names of six restaurants that repeatedly failed multiple critical health requirements in recent years. The restaurants were highlighted - but unnamed - in a recent auditor general’s report.
Five of the six restaurants are currently in compliance with health regulations - Fisherman's Landing in St. Lewis, Labrador didn't meet the province's requirements as of May 2006. Inspectors returned in January of this year, but the seasonal operation was closed at the time of the visit. Inspectors plan to return in the spring.
Meanwhile, one restaurant - Jungle Jim’s on Topsail Road - scored low enough in 2005 that provincial inspectors could have legally shut it down. The inspectors chose not to and the restaurant remained open, with violations likely corrected at the time of inspection.
Breen’s Deli and Baker on New Gower Street repeatedly failed critical health requirement over a period of four years between 2004 to the present, however it never scored low enough to warrant a forced closure. There is one critical health violation in its most recent report last month which says food temperature is not properly monitored.
The Telegram requested the names under access to information laws after the auditor general released his annual report in January. On Friday, the province released the names and reports - and announced a new policy about public access to restaurant health inspection reports. 
Government Services Minister Kevin O’Brien was quoted as saying, "The public release of food premises inspection reports can now be accessed by calling Government Service Centres. The department will release any inspection reports requested as quickly as possible."
The story says that means anyone can now call a Government Services Centre and request the most recent health report for any licensed food establishment in the province. It’s a policy shift that brings the province closer in line with Vancouver, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ont., Toronto and New Brunswick, which all post restaurant inspection reports online. 
O’Brien said the province is considering an online service but hasn’t committed to it. He did confirm the new policy resulted from The Telegram’s request, which was supported by public comments from the province’s Information Commissioner Ed Ring, who said restaurant reports should be made public immediately and would be delayed by the formal access to information process.