The City of Ottawa will reinstate its public staff directory, nearly five years after it was removed from the city website. The decision came after a motion by West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly passed unanimously and without discussion at a council meeting.
Background of the Directory
The original directory contained the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of approximately 17,000 city employees. Residents could search the database to quickly find contact information for specific staff members. However, at the end of 2021, the city took the directory offline, citing potential cybersecurity risks.
Motion to Restore
Coun. Kelly introduced the motion to bring back the directory, emphasizing its importance for transparency and accountability. "A staff directory and organizational chart that is public-facing is a very fundamental first step in terms of transparency and accountability for the City of Ottawa," Kelly said. He noted that the new directory would not include all 17,000 employees but would focus on key departmental contacts, mid-level management, and policy staff.
"There will not be 17,000 people in the directory," Kelly explained. "This is more geared toward key departmental contacts, mid-level management and policy people — people who can help you explore different ideas, ask questions on how to navigate the bureaucracy, and point you in the right direction for a thorough answer."
Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns
The previous directory was removed due to concerns about phishing and malicious cyberactivity. The city's chief financial officer, Cyril Rogers, stated that staff would revisit and re-evaluate these considerations, assess current risks, and review best practices. The goal is to balance appropriate safeguards with the provision of useful information.
"The City of Ottawa adheres to industry cybersecurity standards and best practices to protect the City's network, digital information, staff, and residents," Rogers said. The motion directs staff to return to council within 90 days with a proposed scope and format for the directory, ensuring appropriate cybersecurity and privacy protections.
Next Steps
Kelly expressed satisfaction with the unanimous support, saying, "I felt that after four years of not having the directory, it was time to make a move to bring it back. And so I was very pleased that I was able to do that." The city will now work on developing a directory that meets transparency goals while addressing cybersecurity risks.
This move has been welcomed by advocates of open government, who see it as a step toward greater public access to city operations. The new directory is expected to be more targeted and secure than its predecessor.
