Richard Fadden, the deputy minister of Citizenship and Immigration, sent an e-mail Thursday to staff members with "operating rules" that call for a BlackBerry blackout between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., during lunch and on weekends, the Ottawa Citizen reported Friday.

"Work life quality is the creation of a healthy, supportive work environment that helps us better manage our work and personal responsibilities," Fadden wrote. "Work life quality is a priority for me and this organization because achieving it benefits us both as individuals and as a department."

Fadden also said one of the new department rules was that all meetings must start and end on time and not be allowed to occupy normal lunch hours, the report said.

In the memo, Fadden acknowledged the measures might appear a "bit artificial," he said the department had to start somewhere in reducing stress, the newspaper said.

Many users say the wireless messaging capabilities of a BlackBerry are addictive and jokingly nickname the device a "Crackberry."