B.C. government removes public employee directory, blocking access to staff contacts

B.C. disabled public access to its online government directory without warning on August 18, citing cybersecurity threats from phishing attempts targeting government staff. The Citizens' Services Ministry said the move was based on advice from law enforcement, including the RCMP.

The directory, published by the province since at least 1930, allowed residents to find names, phone numbers and titles for government employees at all levels. It had grown from a 27-page booklet in 1930 to an online database accessible to the public since 2007.

B.C.'s Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey acknowledged the security threat is legitimate — employees have been "doxxed" in documented cases — but called the removal "regrettable." Harvey's office is exploring how to provide this information for public bodies, and he encouraged other agencies to do the same.

The move restricts transparency significantly. A scaled-back replacement is being created for public access, but it will only list Assistant Deputy Minister-level employees and above — most of whom are already public because they are political appointees. This makes B.C. one of the most restrictive in Canada on the issue; Alberta maintains strict controls, while Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick provide far broader access.

Ryan Mitton of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses said the change removes accountability. "We're starting to see a fortress mentality take place, and that's not good for business owners who are waiting on permits, who need help, who need access to government officials and decision-makers on the ground," he said. The removal will also significantly impact media reporting on government, adding another layer of restriction in a province that already severely limits which employees can speak to journalists.