Prince Edward Island was profiled earlier this week as The Smart Province in Ottawa at the national Technology in Government Week conference. Mitch Murphy, Minister of Technology and Environment, made a special presentation highlighting the advances PEI has made in providing government services through technology. The annual conference is considered the world's largest forum on managing information and technology to improve government programs and operations.
"PEI's profile as The Smart Province is based on the quality of the Island IT industry, educational institutions, smart communities, extensive IT infrastructure, and our citizens," said Minister Murphy. "Complementing these is the lead role Government has taken to develop the IT industry in PEI. One way we have done this is by implementing a number of leading edge IT service delivery solutions to Island residents," Minister Murphy told conference delegates in Ottawa.
Minister Murphy also stressed the importance of the private sector in making the transition to a knowledge-based economy and in the development of the vibrant information technology industry in PEI. "There are currently over 100 IT companies in PEI and they can be found from one end of the Island to the other in large, small, urban and rural communities," noted Mr. Murphy.
Allan MacDonald, of Business Technology Consulting in Charlottetown, was one of a number of Island IT business representatives attending the conference in Ottawa. "I found the conference and trade show presented a view of technology use in government that is not always obvious to private citizens or even those of us in the IT business. It was also clear from what I observed, that the Government of PEI is in the forefront of quality service delivery through information technology," said Mr. MacDonald. "No doubt the PEI experience offered new ideas to conference delegates and the contacts my own firm is making with other governments across the country will result in new opportunities for my company outside of Prince Edward Island."
The introduction of Access PEI locations in Summerside and Morell, the development of over 50 Community Access Program (CAP) sites in the province, and the success of the official Government website were all cited by Minister Murphy as examples of how PEI has already changed the delivery of government services and information with the aid of IT. He also emphasized Government's vision that within the next two years any government service that lends itself to electronic delivery without loss of quality or efficiency will be offered to Islanders via an IT solution. "Our municipalities and others will benefit significantly by IT initiatives in the areas of Tele-health, Tele-Education and Tele-Communities," noted Minister Murphy. Initiatives in all of these areas are currently in place in PEI or being planned.
The Tele-Hospice project in West Prince allows terminally ill patients to receive hospice care while maintaining family support from home. Tele-Community projects such as Industry Canada's VolNet Program will provide 200 volunteer organizations across PEI with computers and connections to the Internet, allowing easier and more efficient communication among the groups and their affiliates no matter where they are on the Island. Island youth will be able to obtain specialized training through on line distance education courses without leaving PEI.
"As the new millennium starts, Prince Edward Island is well positioned as Canada's Smart Province - where communities thrive and resources for economic, cultural and social well-being are shared and used effectively. Technology, along with a strong IT industry, a cooperative spirit and willing partners will ensure this happens," concluded Minister Murphy.