Frequently Asked Questions
What is GEDS?
- What benefits does GEDS provide?
- What type of information is available to the public through GEDS?
- Why are public servants’ electronic mail addresses not available to the public?
- How often is the information in GEDS updated?
- Does the government produce an electronic directory on CD-ROM?
- How can I order the Government of Canada directory?
What is GEDS?
Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) provides an integrated directory listing of all federal public servants and manages two directory services: the E-mail Address Exchange Service (EMAX), which contains the X.400 addresses of more than 170,000 public servants, and the Government of Canada telephone directories. Direct500 searches all regions which includes Ottawa-Hull, Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Western and B.C./Yukon.
What benefits does GEDS provide?
The provision of up-to-date, cross-governmental E-mail address and telephone directory information leads to cost reductions through the elimination of duplicated effort in the collection, distribution and publication of the various federal telephone and E-mail directories.
A variety of search capabilities allow users greater flexibility in locating the information they require.
GEDS is also an essential element of the information technology infrastructure necessary for the implementation of future government information and electronic commerce services.
GEDS contains information for all regions since September 1997 and is in a position to accept instantaneous information updates from departments using an application that allows on-line updating, and bi-weekly updates from departments using another type of update tool.
What type of information is available to the public through GEDS?
Canadians have access to public servants’ names, titles, telephone and facsimile numbers, departmental names, office locations and position titles within the governmental structure.
The public now also has access to some public servants’ electronic mail addresses.
Information for both the Ottawa-Hull area and the regions are available on GEDS.
Why are public servants’ electronic mail addresses not available to the public?
The decision to release electronic mail addresses rests with the individual departments and agencies. GTIS will release only information that is supplied voluntarily by the departments.
How often is the information in GEDS updated?
The information can presently be updated either on-line or bi-weekly by the departments. GEDS is in a position to accept, since January 2000, instantaneous information updates from departments using an application that allows on-line updating. Updates can also be performed bi-weekly from departments using another type of update tool.
Does the government produce an electronic directory on CD-ROM?
No. The government sells information to private firms who resell it in different formats to the public, including CD-ROM.
How can I order the Government of Canada directory?
To order Government of Canada paper directories, please call:
Canadian Government Publishing
Communication Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0S9
Telephone orders: (613) 941-5995
Toll Free: 1-800-635-7943 (Canada and USA only)
Fax: (613) 954-5779 or 1-800-565-7757 (Canada only)
E-mail: publications@communication.gc.ca
Web site: http://publications.gc.ca
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