OTTAWA — The federal information czar says the shift to doing government work at home is underscoring a need to ensure decisions are properly documented.
Information commissioner Caroline Maynard is concerned the use of instant messaging, email and team-sharing tools might mean some communications slip though the digital cracks.
Maynard is an ombudsman for users of the Access to Information Act, which allows people who pay $5 to request government records ranging from briefing notes to meeting minutes.
However, the law doesn’t require federal agencies to create records, only to provide what they have.
During a panel discussion, Maynard notes commissioners have been pressing the government to usher in a formal duty to document government decisions.
She says the idea has resurfaced as a result of the move to makeshift work arrangements during the pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2020.
The Canadian Press
