OTTAWA - Experts and other users of digital
topographic data will no longer have to pay to use digital
versions of government maps and data. The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of
Natural Resources, today announced that as of April 1, 2007, Natural
Resources Canada (NRCan) began making its electronic topographic mapping data
available to all users free of charge over the Internet.
"Our Government recognizes the importance of providing Canadians with access
to the latest digital mapping information at no cost," said Minister Lunn. "Not
only will Canadians now have free access to digital maps, but Canada will be
known as an important source for digital mapping data around the world."
Topographic data provide information on the location of landscape features -
such as lakes, rivers and elevations - and also roads, railways and
administrative boundaries. This information is used for many purposes by
governments, academia and the private sector to provide valuable maps for
Canadians.
The new no-fee access policy applies to data that is solely owned by NRCan.
This policy builds on an earlier initiative (http://www.geobase.ca/), which in 2003
provided free access to various co-owned federal, provincial and territorial
topographic data. As well as waiving access fees, NRCan is lifting all cost and
licence restrictions on the redistribution of the data. This will help ensure
that accurate and consistent information is available for users.
NRCan has provided the private sector with access to digital topographic data
since the early 1990s. With the ongoing rapid growth of the Internet and the
resulting drop in distribution costs, it is appropriate to make public
information in digital form available without any restrictions on its use or
redistribution. The data collections will be made available through the
GeoGratis Web portal (geogratis.gc.ca). Users will need to
have a geographic information system or image analysis system and the graphics
applications of editing software to view the data.
The no-fee policy helps advance the Government of Canada's commitment to the
development of knowledge, innovation and productivity in the natural resources
sectors and elsewhere - giving Canadians the advantage to succeed.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Experts and other users of digital topographic data will no
longer have to pay to use digital versions of government maps and data. Natural
Resources Canada began providing this data free of charge on April 1, 2007, to
help ensure the availability of accurate and consistent information.
For more information, media may contact:
Ghyslain CharronMedia RelationsNatural Resources
CanadaOttawa613-992-4447
Kathleen OlsonActing Director of CommunicationsOffice of the
MinisterNatural Resources
CanadaOttawa613-996-2007
And general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDTTelephone: 613-995-0947TTY:
613-996-4397(teletype for the hearing-impaired) E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
