IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Shared Services Canada generated savings “almost immediately” by taking a government-wide approach to integrating the government’s IT infrastructure, said Diane Finley, minister of public works and government services, in her speech at the Government and Technology Exhibition and Conference (GTEC) yesterday in Ottawa.

“Email transformation will result in $ 50 million of taxpayers’ dollars saved,” she said.

The e-passport contains new security features designed to make the passport tamper-proof. These features include:

• an electronic chip (e-chip) embedded in the back cover, which will store the same personal information that appears on Page 2 of the passport (except for the signature), the photo and a digital security feature that proves that the passport was issued by the government of Canada; and
• new images in the inside pages that provide additional security.

Citing the Shared Services Act, which was passed as part of the government’s Omnibus Bill, Maurice Chenier, assistant deputy minister, projects and clients with Shared Services Canada, said his department’s commitment is legislated.

The Conservative government has created a new agency, dubbed Shared Services Canada, and tasked it with shrinking the number of data centres from more than 300 to less than 20, and bringing more than 100 e-mail servers down to just one.

The timeline and priority on e-mail was outlined by Shared Services Canada president Liseanne Forand during the Government Technology and Exhibition Conference in late October, according to media reports.

At the writing of this column, the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) said the number of unfilled jobs in the IT sector will grow to 106,000 by 2016.

Oddly enough, IT and information communication technology (ICT) are the fastest growing sectors of the Canadian economy with the industry’s unemployment rate hovering between 2% and 3%, which is statistically viewed as full employment. If that’s not enough to drive talent to these fields, in this tight labour market the IT and ICT workforce is well-compensated in regard to salary with an average wage 52% higher than the national average.

Keep in mind that governments do not have expertise in every single aspect of the overall operation taking into consideration the size of a municipality for an example. In the case of an expert opinion required in a specific area, a consultant with that skill set is exactly what is needed to assist city staff.

"Savings was at the heart of the mandate that Prime Minister Harper gave SSC two years ago and it still is," said Minister Finley. "SSC generated savings almost immediately, just from taking a government-wide approach and integrating IT infrastructure. Those early savings are helping reduce $150 million in costs that the 2012 Economic Action Plan Budget outlined and email transformation will result in another $50 million of taxpayers' dollars saved."

If there was any doubt that Shared Services Canada is at the forefront of the Conservative government’s efforts to rationalize federal spending, it was dispelled earlier this month — when it accepted nearly 60 procurement employees from Public Works.

SSC’s newest workers are experts in contracting for computers, networking gear and email – and they’ve arrived just in time for an historic transformation of the government’s electronic backbone.

The rapidly moving fields of medical technology and IT have found unique ways to work together, combining mobile communications with health-related applications. With tremendous potential health benefits, the need for mobile medical apps is clear. However, as this new industry takes off, it is necessary that a regulatory framework be developed to ensure the highest safety standards for these devices.

The idea in mind is to make things more efficient for the people in Saskatchewan, by working connections with doctors offices, especially in rural communities. Antosh says the one-stop location will allow residents to get a birth certificate and a health card in the same location, helping to cut down not only on time it takes to get the cards, but also to cut down on possible identity theft.

A data-driven “neighborhood of the future” masterminded by a Google corporate sibling, the Quayside project could be a milestone in digital-age city-building. But after a year of scandal in Silicon Valley, questions about privacy and security remain.

On a Tuesday night in August, Jesse Shapins, the director of public realm and culture at Sidewalk Labs, flipped through a set of colorful slides before a public audience in downtown Toronto.

Take a look at how cutting-edge technology is transforming British Columbia, from revolutionizing health care to building sustainable smart cities for a brighter future.

This comprehensive guide explores the latest innovations transforming daily life across the province, examining how digital advances are creating new opportunities for work, entertainment and community connection. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the digital revolution happening in your backyard, learn how these changes are impacting your community.

HSN is one of seven health-care providers across Canada to receive the LEADing Practice Award from Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), in partnership with Accreditation Canada. The hospital's Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care Clinics earned the LEADing Practice Award for developing a system of electronic patient scheduling, documentation, decision support and record sharing that enabled staff to work collaboratively with local and regional team members.

One of the biggest telehealth networks in the world is weeks away from a major expansion of its availability in Canada’s largest province.

The Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), which currently has some 2,200 videoconferencing endpoints in designated rooms in 1,200 hospitals and clinics, is turning to the Internet to let thousands of doctors and nurses access the network from their offices using personal computers.

Alberta’s rural employers are committed to innovation, growth, and digital transformation to compete with urban employers in attracting and retaining workers as digital technologies increasingly permeate sectors like agriculture, energy, and manufacturing.

Digital technologies have become increasingly important to the Alberta economy in recent years, with noticeable growth in the number of software, energy technology, and clean technology companies. Most of this activity has been in the province’s two largest cities. But rural communities are also essential to Alberta’s economy, attracting 41% of the public and private investment in the province and producing 26% of the province’s GDP. Moreover, rural employers face talent shortages due to senior-level rural worker retirements, rural youth and skilled talent migration to urban centres, and a lack of local digital skills training, among other factors.

She had read all about the electronic health network in Alberta, and “how it was up and coming.”

“I was in a bit of a panic to get ourselves connected. I felt like we were behind the eight ball,” says the owner of Turtle Mountain Pharmacy in the small southern Alberta community of Bellevue.

Rona Ambrose, Public Works Minister, said that not only will the information technology system be more efficient and secure this way, it will also be cheaper. The government expects to see cost savings of US$102-204 million a year.

A new website (SignUpForLife.ca) will easily allow perspective donors to sign up and give their consent to have their organs donated when they pass on. Organs will be donated to those people requiring a transplant as the result of an injury or disease.

The Government of Manitoba has officially launched the first phase of its new e-health record system at seven health centres and hospitals across the province.

The initial rollout of the eChart Manitoba system gives doctors the ability to view demographic, immunization and drug information. It also gives physicians access to select lab results.

EChart pulls together patient information from a number of sources. Currently, it collects information on medication dispensed, immunization records, patient demographics and laboratory results and houses it in one place for quick and easy access by healthcare professionals.

Dr. Harold Nyhof is one physician using eChart. He said the biggest advantage of eChart is the time it will save doctors and patients by amalgamating a patient's medical history.