Under Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace (TBS Direction), government employees are required to work onsite a prescribed minimum number of days, subject to certain exceptions. Deputy heads have the responsibility to implement verification regimes and maintain human resources data for their department.
To verify compliance with the TBS Direction, since January 2024, NRCan has recorded employee onsite network logins (onsite connectivity). Depersonalized information has been shared with senior management for statistical, aggregate reporting (current IOP monitoring practices).
In spring 2026, NRCan will be implementing individual employee-level IOP monitoring practices, using a phased approach, to support managers in verifying and addressing employee compliance with the TBS Direction (future IOP monitoring practices).
Why a privacy impact assessment was completed
The purpose of this PIA was to identify, assess, and recommend mitigation for privacy risks associated with NRCan’s collection and management of personal information for both the current and future IOP monitoring practices.
Additional information
The PIA identified a few privacy risks such as:
- documenting procedures and practices;
- developing an evaluation plan;
- verifying technology contracts;
- registering a new personal information bank;
- establishing specific retention periods;
- raising training and awareness;
- updating privacy notices.
The PIA also confirmed that NRCan is in the process of addressing most of the identified privacy risks and compliance matters, with most mitigation measures expected to be in place in Q1 2026-27.
Related personal information banks
Prescribed Presence in the Workplace Personal Information Bank number to be included following TBS approval.
For more information about this privacy impact assessment
Access to Information and Privacy Office
580 Booth Street, 11th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E4
Telephone: 343-292-6045
Facsimile: 613-995-0693
privacy-protectiondelavieprivee@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca