Information and data governance
Information and data governance is a discipline that directs and supports effective and efficient management of information and data in an organization, from planning and systems development to disposal and/or long-term preservation.
In the Government of Canada (GC), information and data are safeguarded as a public trust and managed as a strategic asset to maximize its value in the service of Canadians.
On this page
Information and data governance requirements
Policies
Policy on Service and Digital
Section 4.3 of this policy lays out how GC deputy heads must manage information and data in their organization to ensure that digital services are delivered effectively. Several directives, standards and guidance support the implementation of this policy. New or revised policy instruments will be posted on the Treasury Board Policy Suite website as they are approved.
Directives
Directive on Service and Digital
Section 4.3 of this directive sets out how GC departmental officials must manage information and data in their organization to ensure that digital services are delivered effectively.
Directive on Open Government
This directive aims to maximize the release of GC information and data of business value to support transparency, accountability, citizen engagement and socio-economic benefits through reuse, subject to restrictions for privacy, confidentiality and security.
Standards
Standard on Systems that Manage Information and Data (Directive on Service and Digital Appendix J)
This standard works to ensure that GC systems that manage information or data are configured to manage it effectively and securely, either independently or in conjunction with one another.
Data and Metadata Reference Standards (Directive on Service and Digital Appendix K)
These standards set out how GC information and data must be presented so that terminology, codes, values, formats and fields are consistent.
Standard for Managing Metadata (Directive on Service and Digital Appendix L)
This standard provides direction on managing metadata for all GC information and data.
Standard on Geospatial Data
This standard supports stewardship and interoperability of information by ensuring that departments access, use and share geospatial data efficiently and effectively to support program and service delivery.
Information and data governance guidance
Guideline on Service and Digital
This guideline supports the GC in implementing the Policy on Service and Digital and Directive on Service and Digital, with advice, considerations and best practices.
Guidance for Employees of the Government of Canada: Information Management Basics
This guidance will help you to:
- gain a basic understanding of information and records management concepts
- learn how you can start applying them today
- shape the way you work with information. You will quickly discover both immediate and long-term benefits
There may be additional practices and procedures in place in your institution, so we encourage you to consult your manager and information management specialists, as needed.
Guidance on Assessing Metadata Needs
This guidance provides advice to departmental officials on how to assess their metadata needs.
Guidance on Metadata Life Cycle Management
This guidance provides advice on how departmental officials can effectively manage metadata consistent with the information and data life cycle.
Guidance on Prescribing Metadata Reference Standards
This guidance provides advice to departmental officials on how to decide on the metadata reference standards they will formally endorse and prescribe for departmental use, particularly as this applies to metadata reference standards that have been developed by external organizations.
Guidance on Data Quality
This guidance provides departmental officials with a common vocabulary for understanding data quality and advice on how they can improve the quality of their data.
Guidance on Assessing Readiness to Manage Data According to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) Principles
This guidance provides foundational advice to departmental officials on how to assess their department’s readiness to manage data according to the findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable guiding principles (the FAIR principles).
Additional information and data governance guidance
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has developed additional guidance on information management and data governance issues to respond to frequently asked questions and/or emerging information management challenges faced by many departments.
Get involved
If you’re a federal public servant and would like to get involved in discussions about information and data, join the Community of Practice on Information and Data on GCXchange (available only on the GC network).
Contact
For more information about information and data governance, contact ServiceDigital-ServicesNumerique@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
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