Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault must unblock Rebel News founder Ezra Levant on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, under the terms of a court order.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault must unblock Rebel News founder Ezra Levant on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, under the terms of a court order.

  • Uninvited Guest
    2·
    1 year ago

    At issue in the case was whether Guilbeault’s X account should be considered a personal social media account or an official government one.

    In an affidavit filed with the court, Treasury Board Secretariat official Tracey Headley said Service Canada confirmed that the account in question was not an official government of Canada social media account.

    Levant argued in the initial notice of application to the court that the Guilbeault account had all the trappings of an official, state-run account, adding the content was public in nature.

    • jadero
      1·
      1 year ago

      That is why the work account should be separate from the personal account. While there might be certain kinds of work where that might not apply (actors?), a ministerial account should be mandatory for continuity through cabinet shuffles and changing governments. In fact, it should be prohibited to use an account created before becoming a minister and which might continue to be used after losing your portfolio.

      I’m not sure how I would have decided this case, but I would tend to side with Levant’s position in principle. If you’re using it in an official capacity, then it’s de facto official.