e-Government Situating Canada

e-Government What is it? What are its potential uses? How far is it likely to go and why? Is it likely to be transformative? Is it likely to be beneficial for democracy or detrimental?

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information on-line pamphlets printable on-line forms on-line Hansard on-line reports

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information e-services (basic) on-line forms service contacts interactive information services Hansard (index, search functions) on-line government databases

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information e-services (basic) e-services (advanced) single portal access integrated e-services e.g. address change customized service point

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information e-services (basic) e-services (advanced) surveys on e-services e-access to policy makers e-input (from citizens)

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information e-services (basic) e-services (advanced) direct interaction with policy-makers e-voting e-town hall meetings e-input (from citizens) e-democracy

e-Government – Situating Canada “Canada is one of the pioneers of e-government and an early adopter of Internet technology.” UK Central IT Unit, “Canada is aiming to become the most connected nation in the world with all key government services fully on-line by 2004.” UK Central IT Unit, “Canada is already one of the most connected nations in the world.” UK Central IT Unit, “Canada has long been an exemplar of electronic service delivery.” UK Central IT Unit, 2000

e-Government Policy in Canada Government On-Line – “commitment to make the Government of Canada the most electronically connected government in the world to its citizens by 2004 and provide Canadians with electronic access to federal information and services.” – including... one-stop access points information organized by theme or type of activity

e-Government Policy in Canada Government On-Line Commitments – choice e-services will “complement, not replace, other options” e-services to expand range of choice (in-person, telephone, mail) – privacy how government uses information (protected from unauthorized use and disclosure) security – accessibility ensuring Internet access for all Canadians who want it

e-Government Policy in Canada Government On-Line strategy – services traditionally designed from the inside out greater emphasis on designing from the outside in (seamless access) – technological infrastructure capacity to handle greatly increased transaction security – people preparing the public service at all levels for e-service delivery

e-Government Policy in Canada Government On-Line – Looking Forward – live on-line (real time) support services – applying for benefits on-line EI, Child Tax Credit, veteran’s allowances – filing taxes on-line personal, corporate – on-line passport renewals – on-line National Park reservations – one stop access points (or portals) with information and services organized according to activity/needs seniors, consumers, small business

e-Government – Potential Uses e-information e-services (basic) e-services (advanced) e-input (from citizens) e-democracy Canada 2001 Canada 2004

e-Government Policy in Canada Government On-Line – e-democracy? – “The on-line channel can create opportunities for enhanced citizen engagement.” – “...exciting potential for greater citizen involvement in public policy-making, and greater responsiveness from public figures and institutions.” – however... no systematic discussion of citizen input (prospects and perils) does not outline any concrete examples of any expected increased citizen input through IT

The Crossing Boundaries Project concern with treating e-government as e- services – lost potential – potential is for more than services assumes that this is good (which is an open question) – unintended (and unplanned) development provision of elements of e-government drives demand for other elements do not want to arrive at e-democracy without having considered what we want it to look like