OTTAWA - Information sessions to school bureaucrats on the handling of personal information have prompted a backlash among staff at Veterans Affairs, who fear they're being used as scapegoats in the privacy scandal that's rocked the department.

Leaked copies of internal department electronic messages, obtained by The Canadian Press, show that one regional manager described the mandatory gatherings as "a farce."

He dismissed them as an attempt by senior officials in Ottawa to deflect responsibility for the privacy invasions involving critics, such as former intelligence officer Sean Bruyea and ex-military nurse Louise Richard.

The comment -- attributed to Ian Watchman, head of audit and evaluation based in P.E.I. -- questioned the value of an information session at the department's Charlottetown headquarters.

"The ethical atmosphere of an organization is established from the 'Tone at the Top,"' said the posting.

"So, instead of the Senior Management Committee showing leadership by accepting responsibility for this indiscretion, they are painting all staff with the same brush that the press has.

"So, based on their behaviour, I guess it is more than acceptable to deflect criticism to where it is unwarranted. A statement by the Senior Management Committee acknowledging and accepting responsibility for this violation of the Privacy Act would go much further that forcing staff to attend a 'Need to Know' information session."

Calls to Watchman were not returned Wednesday.

Other veterans staffers, speaking privately, also complained about being railroaded.

The information sessions were promised by Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn after the country's privacy watchdog found that senior bureaucrats had used Bruyea's medical records to smear him in a 2006 briefing note.

The government has apologized to Bruyea and entered fast-track negotiations to settle his $400,000 privacy lawsuit.

New Democrat veterans critic Peter Stoffer agreed with the criticism.

"It's quite sad and it appears senior levels of management in the government haven't learned anything," he said.

"Instead of saying, 'We're responsible ... we will accept full responsibility for this, they're trying to filter the blame down to everybody else."

Blackburn, in a written statement late Wednesday, did not specifically address the complaints, but said an internal investigation is underway into who was responsible for circulating Bruyea's files

"Obviously, appropriate sanctions will be applied once I receive the report," the minister said.

He emphasized that the department had taken steps to tighten access in the handling of files and new guidelines for the use of information are being developed.

"What is critical is that in doing your daily work, you do so with a heightened sense of safeguarding this information," said the posting.

Blackburn promised tougher sanctions, including dismissal, for those who break privacy rules in the future, and said Wednesday that a new policy was in place.

"We now have a new disciplinary policy and it was communicated to each and every employee," said the email note.

But a spokeswoman declined to release details of the policy -- or characterize how it differed from the old rules.

In a separate internal posting, deputy minister Suzanne Tining reminded staff that protection of sensitive information is a serious concern for everyone in the department and pointed to the privacy commissioner's findings the Bruyea case.

"What is critical is that in doing your daily work, you do so with a heightened sense of safeguarding this information," Tining said in the posting.

Tining's attempted to reassure staff in her note, but made no reference to tougher penalties.

"Questions are being raised publicly about the consequences for staff who violate the Privacy Act in their work," said her posting.

"It is important for you to know that the department investigates every case of inappropriate access and the appropriate disciplinary measures are taken in line with Treasury Board guidelines."