Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Dent on February 12, 2003, regarding the GNWT policy on employee e-mail and Internet usage.
On February 26, 2002, the Government of the Northwest Territories adopted the policy "Use of Electronic Mail and the Internet, Guidelines for Employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories." This policy is currently posted on the GNWT Web site under "Information for Employees" at the FMBS's document library. The policy states: "Computers, networks and computing facilities are provided for the performance of assigned duties. The use of this equipment or technology for any other purpose is not appropriate." The policy goes on to list examples of inappropriate or prohibited uses of government e-mail and the Internet.
When initially implemented, the policy was provided to all employees. The employees were asked to review the policy and sign an acknowledgement that they had read and understood it. These acknowledgements were placed on their personnel files. The process for all new employees is to provide them with the policy as part of the initial documentation process for newly hired employees.
GNWT departments have the ability to monitor employee use of e-mail and the Internet to ensure that these tools are being used appropriately. GNWT departments have the capacity to run regular reports outlining the types of Internet sites employees are accessing. When inappropriate sites are detected, employees are normally advised of this and warned that this contravenes the GNWT policy in this area.
Failure to refrain from this behaviour leads to regular progressive discipline. Depending on the types of sites visited and the nature of an employee's job, fairly severe discipline may be warranted.
The departments were consulted to determine if specific incidents have arisen over the past year. The following were the results:
- the majority reported that there have been no instances where discipline had to be imposed on employees for inappropriate use of the Internet or GNWT e-mail;
- there were several instances where departments had provided verbal and written cautions to employees;
- there were three cases where written reprimands had to be provided to employees concerning use of the Internet;
- there was one instance where an employee was suspended for inappropriate use of the Internet. This suspension has been grieved, but the grievance process has not been completed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.