Executive Council
April 1, 2014
 
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer:

Minister Recognizes April as Records and Information Management Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as Records and Information Management Month in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Effective and proper information management and protection is critically important to organizations large and small. It is particularly important for governments because of the types of information they collect and create. It also supports our Open Government Initiative by making information more readily available to anyone wishing to use it.

Guided by the Management of Information Act and related policy and guidelines issued by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, public sector information management professionals play an important role in managing and protecting Provincial Government information. This includes the personal information of citizens, collected to provide services to them, as well as the records that document and inform the business and policies of government.

As Records and Information Management Month is recognized here and around the world, it is a good time for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to think and learn more about managing and protecting information both in the workplace and at home.

Some general measures include: understanding the legal requirements around managing information; setting up a filing system for paper and electronic records and avoiding keeping duplicate records; completing regular back-ups of electronic records; and, where appropriate, securely destroying both paper and electronic records.

It is also a good time to be mindful of cyber-threats that might jeopardize information. For example: never reveal usernames or passwords; avoid sending confidential information via email where possible; be extra vigilant when viewing unsolicited or suspicious email and never click on unrecognizable or unfamiliar links or attachments; lock computers and other electronic devices when not in use; and, ensure that up-to-date security software is installed on such devices.

In this digital age, the practice of information management and protection continues to evolve in the face of expanding mobile technology and social media, as well as more persistent and sophisticated online threats.

Our government will continue to review new developments and best practices to stay on the leading edge in managing and protecting information.

2014 04 01            1:45 p.m.