CANADA may top the global rankings for putting government and its services on the Internet, just ahead of Singapore, but it is not resting on its laurels. The North American country now wants to reach out to its young citizens, after being given a sharp reminder recently of its doddery image among youths, said an official here for a conference on e-government at the CommunicAsia trade show this week.
When few people below 24 bothered to vote in the recent state elections in Ontario province, it was a worrying sign that young people are not interested in politics and government, said Canadian deputy chief information officer Simon Gauthier.
The government has received the same message of apathy from surveys of what young Canadians want. Now, it hopes to reconnect with them by tapping into its people's penchant for cellphones.
'The next phase is to bring in wireless technology for the young,' said Mr Gauthier.
Canada's constant search for ways to improve e-government services for its 31 million citizens has clinched it the No 1 spot for the fourth year running this year in an annual survey.
Accenture, the management consultancy which carried out the survey, cited the Canadian government for its 'focus on self-examination and relentless pursuit of user feedback'.
The survey ranks 22 mostly developed countries in terms of the variety of government services provided online and how comprehensive and useful they are. The services range from submitting tax returns or paying fees online, to getting information on rules and regulations and giving feedback on policies.
Singapore came out tops in Asia and was second globally for the fourth time, tied with the United States.
Making e-government more user-friendly is also one of the goals of Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), which was also represented at the conference.
Just as Canada wants to go wireless, the IDA is exploring more ways to let its people use cellphones for government transactions.
Chief executive Tan Ching Yee said the IDA was aware that a lot of young people preferred to use cellphones.
'Telecommunications is not as widely used for e-government but the technology is in place, and we can certainly do more,' she said in an interview.
Some services are already in place. For example, national servicemen can send an SMS or use their handheld computers to apply for an exit permit when leaving the country. Singaporeans can also use SMS to pay their transport fines or to be reminded to renew their passports.
Such services are seen as being 'citizen-centric' - which the three speakers said was a key aim in their efforts. This means combining similar services to make it more convenient for users, even if they come under different ministries and agencies.
'Citizens should expect to be able to complete almost any transaction with the Government online,' said the IDA's Mrs Tan.
Australia, ranked joint-fourth in Accenture's survey, has a website that allows users to create resumes, then submit them in job applications for governmental and non-governmental jobs alike.
In Singapore, the website www.business.gov.sg offers budding entrepreneurs a quick way to get around different ministries when starting a business.
A list of relevant licences and permits is provided, which they can then apply for and pay for when done.
The Singapore Government's $1.3 billion e-Government Action Plan II was launched last year. One of its goals for 2006 is to introduce 12 more online services involving government agencies.
Mrs Tan said the Government was looking to the private sector for new ideas to improve e-government.
'We'll see what they do and if it works for them, we'll try to follow suit,' she said.
'Why reinvent the wheel?'
THE TOP 10
1. Canada
2. Singapore, United States
4. Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden
8. France
9. United Kingdom, Netherlands
Autor: Jessica Lim
Quelle: The Straits Times, 19.06.2004
