Mastering metrics: Ontario’s five-year strategy plan
By Rosie Lombardi
The Ontario government’s IT infrastructure has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Slated for implementation in April 2008, a new five-year strategy plan aims to pin down performance management with a set of solid metrics. Expect more standardized operating environments and more consolidation. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Q&A with Rob Dowler, Ontario Ministry of Government Services
By Lisa Williams
As corporate chief strategist with the Ontario Ministry of Government Services (MGS), Rob Dowler is responsible for developing government-wide IT strategies and policies. Dowler recently spoke with senior writer Lisa Williams about I&IT procurement within MGS; his take on open source software, Facebook and going back to school; and how he stays in shape with distance running. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Transportation wins Diamond Award for serving Ontario’s citizens
By Mark Els
The Ministries of Transportation and Community Safety and Correctional Services went home last night with two Diamond Awards each from Showcase Ontario. While law enforcement was a common theme in Transportation’s awards, Deputy Minister Shelly Jamieson talked earlier today about some of the other “intelligent transportation” initiatives on the go. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Ontario CIO stresses service at showcase event
By Lisa Williams
Information technology is all about service, according to Ron McKerlie, corporate chief information and information technology officer, Ministry of Government Services. In addressing Showcase Ontario attendees at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre today, McKerlie’s keynote stressed this year’s service theme. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Building a project management culture
By Soussan Tabari, Government of Ontario
The overriding goal of Ontario’s Project Management Office is a cultural change to make project management the way the branch operates, day in and day out. There’s no top-down rule enforcement, but it does wield a powerful stick. It’s called controllership, and it comes with a carrot dangling at the end. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Power takes e-health privacy reins
Alex Binkley on e-health
In electronic health care services, the use of personal information can be both critical and highly controversial. Michael Power, new chief privacy and security officer for Ontario’s e-health system, feels like he’s landed at ground zero in the debate over information technology and privacy protection. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Toronto pet owners safe from Patriot Act
By Mari-Len De Guzman
What does pet registration have to do with Canadian privacy? According to City of Toronto officials, lots. It started out as a simple project to take the city’s dog and cat licensing process online to increase compliance and generate more revenue. But political developments south of the border led project proponents to consider the project’s privacy implications. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Public service needs more than partisan politics
By Don Lenihan
Civil society organizations were excluded from last month’s Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America in Montebello, Quebec. This partisan tactic sends a clear message that, for these leaders, politics is a competitive sport where winning is all about gaining control of public processes to advance one’s own interests. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Shifting toward Federalism 2.0
Jeffrey Roy on e-governance
In Canada, cross-jurisdictional initiatives designed to better share or integrate information are growing. The need for genuinely collaborative governance explains the recent protocol on public sector renewal signed by the respective heads of the Canadian and Ontario governments. Full story at InterGovWorld.com
Stupid tags don’t make smart cards
Richard Bray on e-security
Canadians and Americans will soon be breezing across the border between British Columbia and the state of Washington with pilot trials of RFID-enabled drivers’ licences, as a replacement to passports or other travel documents. But the technology that will be used in the proposed trials does not allow data encryption. Full story at InterGovWorld.com