The GNWT intercepted and retained 511 emails that were sent to my former work email after I left my employment on March 12, 2014

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Of these 511 emails - here are 394 of particular interest

Note: These 394 emails are from just 122 people

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. . . and here's why I think these 394 emails matter:

202 Emails from Securities Commissions and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA):

Important because:

  • many likely contain Material Non-Public Information (i.e. insider information)
  • many likely include personal information regarding registrants and market participants

Why this is a problem:

  • Persons with access to inside information regarding market participants have an unfair advantage in the operation of securities markets
  • Even the mere appearance of impropriety can seriously undermine confidence in capital markets and securities regulation

209 Emails from Lawyers and Attorneys:

Important because:

  • Lawyers (and Attorneys) have a duty to deal with each other with courtesy, good faith, and candour

Why this is a problem:

  • In the Northwest Territories, the only obligation triggered by the receipt of an email from a lawyer (or attorney) to a lawyer who was not the intended recipient is to “promptly notify the sender”
  • a lawyer (or lawyers) at the GNWT failed to meet this obligation up to 209 times

173 Emails from the United States:

 Important because:

  • Principles of international comity dictate that we respect the laws of other jurisdictions

Why this is a problem:

  • All 50 states have data breach notification laws
  • At least 35 states also have data disposal laws

The following highly redacted documents from the GNWT create the illusion that these emails were deleted in 2015 when my last contract expired:

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My GNWT contract did not say that my former work email would be extended and intercepted . . .

In fact, my last GNWT contract says nothing about email:

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While the GNWT says the interception of email was in the 'course and scope of employment' - the Information and Privacy Commissioner does not agree:

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Not satisfied with the 'course and scope of employment' explanation from the GNWT - I went public regarding my former work email:

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The GNWT responded by threatening to bury me in paperwork and a lawsuit at NWT taxpayer expense

And they did . . . but they hid the lawsuit in Alberta and immediately made an application to restrict news media access:

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But their demands for my silence are not just limited to this matter of 394 emails . . .

They also want my complete silence on anything related in any way to my employment with the GNWT . . .

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Including the fact that the GNWT collects information from visitors to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories website:

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And the fact that they share this information with third-parties:

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and the fact that the information collected can identify an individual's real-world identity:

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Here's the fact that they seem to want silenced most:

They do all of this without the knowledge or consent of any of the individuals involved

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© 2020 Donn MacDougall

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