IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government introduced plans Thursday for what it calls e-government, improving and expanding online services for Quebecers.

But Henri-Francois Gautrin, parliamentary assistant to Charest, said the traditional ways of reaching the government, such as telephone calls and face-to-face meetings, won't be eliminated.

Read more: Canada: Quebec to offer more services online

E-government is the buzzword in public administration these days, as bureaucrats try to make more and more services available on-line. Canadians can process everything from tax returns to dog licences through the Internet, and governments at all levels are trying to make their services as technologically advanced as possible. Canada has been repeatedly recognized by observers like Accenture as one of the world's most-advanced e-governments.

Read more: Canada: No easy e-path to democracy

Tax cuts assured. Looking to create first e-government

Get ready for some serious changes in the way Quebec delivers services and pays for them, says Premier Jean Charest.

Read more: Canada: Charest pledges leaner Quebec

Canadians are embracing eGovernment faster and with more enthusiasm than Americans, Japanese or Australians.

During May 2003, 52.9% of online Canadians visited a government website, ten per cent greater penetration than in the United States. In Australia, the comparable figure was 29.7%, and only 24.2% in Japan.

Read more: Canadians embrace government by Internet