Directory of Federal Government
Enquiry Points 2005-2006

A. Introduction

Info Source: Directory of Federal Government Enquiry Points

This annually updated Info Source: Enquiry Points contains addresses and phone numbers for federal departments and agencies. Other institutions associated with the federal government are included. Altogether, there are approximately 250 institutions listed.

Most entries include general enquiry and fax numbers. Some include numbers for Telecommunications Devices for the Hearing-and Speech-Impaired (TTY), communications and publications units, departmental libraries, personnel enquiries, general enquiry E-Mail addresses and Internet sites.

To contact local or regional federal offices, consult the blue pages in your local telephone book.

B. Information on the Government of Canada

The following telephone numbers are for the Government of Canada's bilingual, toll-free service. They can be used to obtain general information and referrals for programs and services.

Canada Business Service Centres provide bilingual, toll-free information about business, starting a business, or programs, services, or regulations related to business. These Centres are able to answer questions relating to both federal and provincial jurisdiction.

Canada Web Site

The Canada site provides Internet users with a single electronic access point to general information about Canada, the federal government, and its programs and services. The Canada site features three gateways to quickly access information: Canadians, Canadian Business, and Non-Canadians. These gateways organize content around the needs of users rather than by departmental responsibility.

C. About Info Source

Info Source is a series of publications containing information about and/or collected by the Government of Canada. The primary purpose of Info Source is to assist members of the public and federal employees in exercising their rights under the Access to Information Act (ATIA) and the Privacy Act (PA). Info Source also supports the government's policy to explain and promote open and accessible information regarding its activities. In essence, Info Source upholds the transparency and accountability of the federal government to Canadians.

There are four Info Source publications:

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government Information:

• provides information about the Government of Canada, its organization, and its information holdings;
• helps individuals determine which institution to contact to make enquiries; and
• provides individuals who are not and who have never been employees of the federal government with relevant information to facilitate access to personal information held about them by any federal government institutions subject to the Privacy Act.

Info Source: Sources of Federal Employee Information:

• contains information to help current and former federal government employees to locate personal information held by the government; and
• is intended to help former and current government employees to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

Info Source: The Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Bulletin:

• provides statistical tables reflecting the number of Access to Information and Privacy requests on an annual basis and cumulative statistics since 1983; and
• contains a summary of federal court cases related to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Info Source: Directory of Federal Government Enquiry Points:

• contains addresses and telephone numbers for federal departments and agencies subject to the Access to Information Act and/or the Privacy Act; and
• other institutions associated with the federal government are included to facilitate access.

Info Source is distributed to libraries, municipal offices, and federal government offices across Canada.

D. Roles and Responsibilities

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the Treasury Board is responsible for the annual creation and dissemination of a publication that provides a description of government organizations, program responsibilities, and classes of records with sufficient clarity and detail to enable the public to exercise its rights under the Access to Information Act.

The Treasury Board is also responsible for the annual publication of an index of personal information that will both serve to keep the public informed about how the government handles personal information, as well as facilitating the public's ability to exercise its rights under the Privacy Act.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat fulfils these requirements through the annually updated publication of Info Source.

Individual Institutions

Government institutions are required to provide their updated information to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat on an annual basis. This information is used in the production of the publications required by the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act. Consequently, each department and agency is completely responsible for the information it submits.

E. Additional Information

For more information about Info Source, the Access to Information Act, or the Privacy Act, you may contact:

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

L'Esplanade Laurier, East Tower
140 O'Connor Street, 8^th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0R5

If you would like a copy of Info Source: Directory of Federal Government Enquiry Points or the Info Source: Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Bulletin, please contact:

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Distribution Centre

L'Esplanade Laurier, Level P-1W
300 Laurier Avenue West, Room P-140
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0R5

If you would like to purchase a copy of Info Source: Sources of Federal Government Information or Info Source: Sources of Federal Employee Information, please contact:

Publishing and Depository Services

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5

All four Info Source publications are also available free of charge on the Internet at www.infosource.gc.ca.