By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
August 19, 2026
The British Columbia government has announced plans to end public access to its online government employee directory, citing growing cybersecurity threats.
The decision by the provincial NDP government means members of the public will no longer have the same open access to information that has historically allowed them to identify and contact government employees.
The government says the move is intended to strengthen security and protect public servants from potential cyber threats.
The directory has a long history in British Columbia. According to Global News, a government directory of this nature has been publicly available since the 1930s, long before the emergence of the internet.
Government cites cybersecurity concerns
The province’s decision comes amid increasing concerns about cyberattacks and the protection of government systems and employees.
Under the new approach, access to the directory will be restricted to government services and employees rather than being available to the general public.
Government officials have pointed to cybersecurity as a key reason behind the change, arguing that publicly available information can potentially be exploited by individuals seeking to target government employees.
Critics raise transparency concerns
The decision has nevertheless prompted questions about transparency and public access to government information.
Jody Toor, the MLA for Langley-Willowbrook and the opposition critic for government services, criticized the move, noting that the directory has been available to the public for generations.
Toor argued that privacy and security concerns should be addressed without unnecessarily limiting public access to government officials and services.
The controversy highlights a broader challenge facing governments: how to balance the protection of public servants in an increasingly digital environment with the public’s expectation of openness and accessibility.
For decades, government directories have served as a straightforward way for residents, journalists and organizations to identify the appropriate officials and government departments to contact.
The B.C. government’s decision now marks a significant shift in how that information will be accessed.
While the government maintains that the measure is necessary because of evolving cyber threats, critics are likely to continue questioning whether the security benefits outweigh the potential impact on transparency and public accountability.
The change comes as governments across Canada and around the world face increasing pressure to strengthen their digital security while maintaining public trust and accessibility.
