Residents of Prince Edward Island will be noticing something new in the 1998 telephone directories being delivered by Island Tel. The familiar Government Blue Pages won't look so familiar anymore thanks to the work of the Service Delivery Task Force of the Knowledge Economy Partnership; a unique partnership between the Federal Government, the Province of PEI, Holland College and the University of PEI.
"The new Blue Pages have been re-designed with the user in mind. They make it easier to access government services because they are organized by subject and program area and do not require detailed knowledge of departmental structures," said Premier Pat Binns. "Improvements to the Blue Pages are an example of the Federal and Provincial Governments' commitment to work in partnership to improve service to the public."
"For the first time anywhere in Canada, the provincial and federal government listings have been combined," said George Proud, MP Hillsborough, on behalf of the Honourable Fred Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (ACOA). "Surveys have shown that Canadians want to know where to find government information fast and easily, and these new Blue Pages will help them do that."
Blue Pages pilot projects were initiated across the country in 1997 by the Honourable Alfonso Gagliano, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada as an extension of the Federal Government's Quality Services Initiative. Building on a London, Ontario pilot project undertaken in the summer of 1997, the Knowledge Economy Partnership decided last fall to conduct a pilot project that would integrate all available provincial and federal government services into one functional listing.
The pilot project was successful largely because of the sponsorship of the Knowledge Economy Partnership's Service Delivery Task Force, the participation of all federal and provincial departments, the coordination role played by Public Works and Government Services Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada and the cooperation of Island Tel.
The objective of the Service Delivery Task Force of the Knowledge Economy Partnership is to develop, pilot and implement service delivery approaches and improve service to the public through innovative and cooperative application of technology.