John et al:

While I am more than willing to sign non-disclosure agreements in order to be provided with this important information and this documentation, I do understand that it is a matter of Board Decision as to the legitimate confidentiality of any information or documentation. As I, certainly, do not wish to brook the authority of the Board, I need to hear their decision on the verification of the confidentiality of the information for which Mr. Rattray is demanding the signing of these non-disclosure agreements. I certainly believe that Mr. Rattray should have directed this issue to the OEB, before making his request to the rest of us. Please see the following from the OEB Practice Directions.

"PRACTICE DIRECTION ON CONFIDENTIALITY
procedures for the filing of confidential materials in relation to all proceedings that come before the Ontario
Energy Board. This Practice Direction is ...
www.oeb.gov.on.ca/documents/practice_direction-confidentiality_161106.pdf
ONTARIO ENERGY BOARD
PRACTICE DIRECTION ON CONFIDENTIAL FILINGS
1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
.................................................
The Board’s general policy is that all records should be open for inspection by any person. This reflects the Board’s view that its proceedings should be open, transparent, and accessible. The Board therefore generally places materials it receives in the course of the exercise of its authority under the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 and other legislation on the public record so that all interested parties can have equal access to those materials. That being said, the Board relies on full and complete disclosure of all relevant information in order to ensure that its decisions are well-informed, and recognizes that some of that information may be of a confidential nature and
should be protected as such......................................................
This Practice Direction seeks to strike a balance between the objectives of transparency and openness and the need to protect information that has been properly designated as confidential. The approach that underlies this Practice Direction is that the placing of materials on the public record is the rule, and confidentiality is the exception. The onus is on the person requesting confidentiality to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that confidential treatment is warranted in any given case."

Perhaps this is actually a matter of a motion. I will await the Board's direction on this matter before I respond. I do hope the Board will take this into account as far as time constraints regarding responses is concerned.

Chris Aristides Pappas

519-538-5551