GN seeks more time to show it’s protecting privacy in government mail in Iqaluit
Territory’s information and privacy commissioner had asked 3 departments to respond by Jan. 17
Nunavut’s Health and Finance departments need to review how they handle Iqaluit residents’ sensitive mail after a report by Nunavut Information and Privacy Commissioner Graham Steele flagged the departments as not making reasonable security arrangements to reduce the risk of misaddressed or mis-delivered mail. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The Government of Nunavut asked for more time to show that sensitive information contained in government mail is being protected during changes to delivery in Iqaluit, says the territory’s information and privacy commissioner Graham Steele.
In December, Steele set a Jan. 17 deadline for three GN departments — Finance, Family Services and Human Resources — to assess the risk of privacy breaches and demonstrate how they are acting to prevent them.
That followed complaints from residents late last year regarding the opening of second Canada Post office in Iqaluit.
People were required to change their address from a post office box number to a civic address, which is then associated with a new box number. Several challenges arose, including complaints of substantial delays, confusion and late or mishandled mail.
This week, Steele said the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs wants to put forward a “co-ordinated response” from the GN, rather than three separate departmental responses.
He said the department requested an extension due to its work in preparing for this week’s signing of a devolution agreement between the federal and territorial governments and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
The new deadline is Jan. 24, Steele said.
He said he is unsure what to expect from the “co-ordinated response,” since he wrote separate letters to each department because of the unique types of mail they send.
“Finance runs the database for GN employees, so presumably they’re going to have to someone change the address information for the several thousand GN employees who live in Iqaluit,” said Steele. “That’s not a challenge faced by the other departments.”
You send back GN letters that are coming to your box because someone moved and used to have your box number and the GN doesn’t stop them from coming. I marked RTS on an individuals mail for 10 months. I gave up and just throw it in the trash now.
Thanks for sharing your story. If you have time, I am interested in hearing more about the details. My office e-mail address is admin at atipp-nu dot ca. The same goes for anyone else who has a story they would like to share about lost or misdirected GN mail.
Graham Steele
Information and Privacy Commissioner
A few days ago I found someone’s mail opened and scattered on the floor of the vestibule at building 935.
Bills, paystubs, notices and Christmas cards.
Few times now that our federal child benefit cheque was put in our neighbors box, but hey they got the building number right at least. Am I supposed to walk up to the counter; hey by the way you put my mail in the wrong box, again. Oh ok we will try to do better next time.
You know you can register for direct deposit? No more checks needed
It’s pretty much pointless telling the post office workers that mail was put in the wrong box. They tell you they will put the mail in general delivery but the next time you check the mail, those same pieces of mail are right back in the box. Thanks for telling me its going to general delivery only to be put back in the box the next day
Canada Post employees are required to put mail in the box it’s addressed to. They have no choice. This is the sender’s mistake, not Canada Post.
Even if its the wrong box? The mail that’s being put in my box isnt even addressed to my new or old box. They keep telling me they will put it in general delivery in case the person comes looking for it. It shouldn’t even go to my box since i live in a new building.
My mistake! If it’s the wrong box as per the address on the envelope then that’s on the worker.
I think I misread/understood your comment.
“He said the department requested an extension due to its work in preparing for this week’s signing of a devolution agreement between the federal and territorial governments and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.”
Does anyone else see the irony in this statement? I can walk and chew bubblegum at the same time. Can you?