Effective: April 1, 2018
Applicable FAM Policies: 770 – Promotional Material
Applicability: GNWT Departments and Public Agencies

INTERPRETATION

Promotional items should not be extended solely to promote department or unit identity. Departments must have specific authority or a specific promotional budget to purchase promotional material.

Promotional items must not be purchased and extended to GNWT employees unless they are part of a government-wide public service initiative (e.g., Employee and Family Assistance Program and The Bear Facts Newsletter).

Authorization and Payment for Promotional Items Extended by the Government

Only Ministers, Deputy Ministers and their duly authorized delegates and service contractors may have expenditure authority for promotional items. A promotional expense must be authorized in advance.

Exceptions to this IB must have the approval of the Minister or Deputy Minister attached to the expenditure officer's justification.

Extending and Receiving Promotional Items

Public officers are not prohibited from purchasing with their personal funds any promotional material for their own personal use as long as the material has been approved by the Minister, Deputy Minister or authorized delegates of the department. 

Public officers are permitted to receive promotional items of small intrinsic value that are provided as gifts as part of the business protocol, hospitality or social obligation that normally accompany the duties or responsibilities of the employee and that cannot be viewed as payment. For example, free promotional items (e.g., advertisers' calendars, pens, mugs, etc.) which are within the normal standards of hospitality, from other public officers and parties outside the Government