IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Number of data centres to fall to fewer than 20 from 300

Shared Services Canada will help transform Canada’s federal government, reducing costs, securing government networks and better preparing it to offer new services to Canadians, says Diane Finley, minister of public works and government Services.

Speaking at the second day of the Government and Technology Exhibition and Conference (GTEC), Finley said Wednesday that the ongoing rollout of Shared Services Canada is one of the government’s most important initiatives.

Read more: CA: Federal government enters second year of three-year IT consolidation program

P.E.I.'s new 811 telehealth service has been receiving more calls than expected, and that's led to some complaints about delays in getting a response.

Health PEI says it planned for 40 to 60 calls a day, but the first week an average of 70 Islanders daily called for health advice from a registered nurse.

If a nurse isn't available immediately, and the issue isn't urgent, people are told they'll get a call back.

Read more: CA: Prince Edward Island: Telehealth line getting more calls than expected

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister responsible for Shared Services Canada, today delivered a keynote address at Canada's Government Technology Event (GTEC) 2013, outlining how Shared Services Canada is delivering the Government's vision of a leaner, more efficient government and better value for taxpayers. The Minister focused on three key areas where the government will focus its efforts through SSC: savings, security and better service through private sector engagement.

"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."

Read more: CA: Harper Government to Achieve Important Savings Through IT Infrastructure Transformation

Mahone Bay has identified six areas where it would like to talk about more municipal co-operation.

Town council debated the merits of making a list September 26 after receiving a request from the Municipal Joint Services Board.

That board, which currently only oversees waste management, asked the three participating municipal units for a prioritized list of services they "would like to see investigated" for possible movement.

Read more: CA: Nova Scotia: Mahone Bay lists possible shared services