More transparency for government texts: MLA
Hannah Bell says policy needed to retain government records sent through private messages
Green MLA Hannah Bell wants more transparency when it comes to government records sent through private messages.
Bell, who was officially sworn into office Wednesday, used her first question period as an MLA to challenge the MacLauchlan government on its policies when it comes to government communications that filter through private messages such as texts and Blackberry PINs.
She says she’s found an increasing number of freedom of information requests coming back with no results, and believes this could be because information is being shared in private messages.
Current policies and practices do not see texts or private messages included in records released through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) Act.
“We know those communications have been happening, but they’ve been happening through those medium of instant messaging and text messaging,” Bell said.
“Often policies don’t keep up with the tech and this is an example where we have definitely not been able to get ahead of it.”
This was an issue identified as a concern by Auditor General Jane MacAdam in her probe of the controversial e-gaming initiative last year.
As part of her audit, her office requested relevant government records including texts, instant messages and Blackberry PINs.
“There were none provided by government even though we were advised, and have evidence that some government business relevant to these files was conducted through these forms of communication,” MacAdam noted in her 2016 e-gaming report.
“Therefore, we could not determine if the information we received included all relevant government records.”
Bell noted all jurisdictions are grappling with the increased electronic messaging for government business, but said many have adjusted their policies to help increase transparency in this area.
She also believes that excuses often given for a lack of ability to retain these records don’t hold water.
“It’s literally an on/off switch on the server through an administrative service so we certainly have the technology available to do so, but we have to have the policy in place,” Bell said.
Education Minister Jordan Brown, whose office oversees the Archives and Records Act, noted nine new staff members have been added to the records department to respond to multiple record retention concerns flagged by the auditor general in her e-gaming report.
“We have hired folks that will be experts in this area that will be actively providing advice to government departments… to ensure we are doing our utmost on this,” Brown said.
But he did not commit to any direct policy to retain private messages containing government records.
Bell says she believes this is something that needs to be done.
“When you’re conducting government business in any mode, even with phone calls to be honest, we’re meant to be logging those activities so that they are available as part of the public record,” she said.
“The absence of that whole piece of the way that we communicate is leaving hole in our records… we cannot be transparent and accountable if we don’t have a clear and present record of all the decisions that are being made.”