Information & Ethics Committee on Dec. 7th, 2010

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Thanks very much.

As you know, the committee is planning to hold e-consultations so we can actually open this process up in terms of the kinds of things Mr. Moore has talked about. Today David Eaves posted some advice to the committee on his website in an open letter advising us how to proceed. I guess we would like people to look at that advice and respond to it. But as we formalize a work plan for this committee, we would also like ongoing advice on not only what we end up recommending, but on how we do it, to make sure we get the best possible report we can have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

I don't know if you're aware or not, but that letter has been translated and circulated to all members.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

So the letter has been translated, and I think we will be able to post the link on the committee website. Is that correct? If not, it's on mine. As we go forward we are trying to make a big push, not only for what we do here in Parliament, but how we do it, in terms of being much more bottom-up and open.

As you advise us on what we will be able to do on the committee website, are there other places, whether it's GTEC or something to do with your site, Mr. Mulley, at openparliament.ca? Eventually there will be a list of all of the consultations going on by government at the same time. It will be a kind of guidepost, if people are interested in participating in a democracy between elections, on where the openness is for them to play, or to advise or consult.

Over the next little while perhaps you will have advice on sites we should be notified of, sites where we should be participating, or sites that should be directed to our process. I think the more robust our process, the better reports we're going to get, and the more we can help with moving it.

I don't know if you have any advice right now, or whether you will get back to us with the kinds of things you need. But certainly if you want to send an open letter as to how we should proceed, we would welcome that as well.

[Michael Mulley]

I assure you there'll be significant online interest in a consultation on this matter. I and many other people will do whatever we can to get the word out.

[Chris Moore]

I saw that Mr. Eaves posted very early this morning in Vancouver. I was quite impressed.

There are some things he's recommending to you there from the work Australia did with their government task force. There's probably work you need to do that may recommend something. The thing is whether you as a committee can figure out how to engage in the social media conversations.

I was in Manila a couple of weeks ago--invited there by FutureGov--speaking to local government officials and national officials. I basically told them in my presentation, “You need to be part of the conversation, because it's happening without you”.

If you can figure out how to connect into the social media conversation.... I don't know if it's possible for the committee to have a Twitter account, but if you can do that you can engage other people.

After I saw David's post this morning and read it, I tweeted it to my over 1,400 Twitter followers and put a couple of hashtags on it so it got to the right search engines.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

What hashtag did you use?

[Chris Moore]

I think I added gov 2.0. I may have used GoC3 for the group that was there. You need to connect not just with the technology people, but with average, everyday citizens. That has been part of our challenge. All I would say is the community is there, Mr. Mulley, Mr. Eaves, other people, and I would love to have the opportunity to continue to help, encourage, and support.

I'm on the advisory committee for a group called Lac Carling. They've met for the last 15 years. It's a gathering of leaders in technology and service delivery, and it's going to be on their agenda.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Thank you, Dr. Bennett.

That concludes the questions.

I'm going to ask Mr. Mulley and Mr. Moore if they have any final comments they want to make to the committee. We're going to suspend and go in camera after they are through.

Mr. Mulley, are there any concluding remarks you want to make to the committee?

[Michael Mulley]

Just that I am excited to see that the study is taking place. It's great to hear that you plan on making a very consultative effort to see what's happening with Canadians. I hope you move quickly. I hope that Canada can regain a position of prominence in online government. I hope there is action as soon as possible and we'll get to see a lot of important outcomes and innovation coming from it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Mr. Moore, do you have any final or concluding comments?

[Chris Moore]

Thank you.

An opportunity like this to pull all of the work under way that needs to be done together is absolutely something that unifies. I thank you for the opportunity to speak.

As I was listening to the conversation, you've already started that engagement. Your challenge is to find all the right people to talk to and also provide some leadership.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

On behalf of everyone on the committee, I want to thank you both. As Dr. Bennett has indicated, don't hesitate to continue the dialogue if you have any afterthoughts you want to leave with the committee. Just send them to the clerk, and the clerk will have them translated and circulated to all members of the committee.

That concludes this part of the meeting.

[Proceedings continue in camera]