For immediate release
November 22, 2011
Ottawa – The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for FedNor, today encouraged federal public servants gathered at PSEngage to further collaborate and interact with their government, and other Canadians, through social media.
"Internet-based tools are allowing public servants to be more productive by sharing information more effectively and efficiently than even a few years ago," said Minister Clement. "This conference allows public servants to explore how knowledge-sharing can advance productivity and innovation, engage Canadians, and modernize our government," said Minister Clement.
The Government of Canada is continually looking at ways to improve services to Canadians by including Internet-based tools that allow users to share information, foster dialogue, and collaborate in the creation of content.
The creation of Shared Services Canada and the Open Government initiative are examples of how technology is not only transforming government, but also increasing interaction and collaboration across government and with the public.
Web 2.0 tools provide additional means of interactive communications between government institutions and Canadians. These tools are the modern-day equivalents of "town halls." They can be used for various purposes including recruitment, emergency communications, and service delivery. They also help provide valuable information to the public, stakeholders, and act as tools for consultations.
The Guideline for External Use of Web 2.0 is designed to provide specific guidance to public servants on the use of social media. It also includes practical advice to help departments make informed decisions about how to meet their existing legislative and policy requirements when using those tools.
"People all over the world are adapting to the pace of unprecedented technological change that impacts how they communicate, consult, collaborate, manage data and share information," said Minister Clement. "This is about enhancing our productivity which, in turn, makes Canada more competitive in the global economy."
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For more information, contact:
Sean Osmar
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
613-957-2640
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