Alex Binkley

Three researchers are completing a study that delves into the thorniest issues in government-industry service delivery partnerships and explains how they have been successfully tackled in this country. Patrice Dutil of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, Prof. Jeffrey Roy of the University of Ottawa and CIO Government Review and Prof. John Langford of the University of Victoria have been researching the state of public-private partnerships in transforming service delivery. They have made case studies of a number of these arrangements looking for the common ingredients to a successful outcome.

Caveat emptor has gained a whole new meaning for consumers who let their fingers do the shopping through online retailers and services like eBay.

The drive to improve government service delivery has taken root among civil servants but has gained little visibility with the public or elected representatives, according to two politicians.

The federal government must work with the provinces and municipalities to broaden the mandate of Service Canada if the new agency is to be truly effective in improving the quality of services delivered to the public.

An ambitious plan to make it easier for Canadians to obtain information and services from the federal government got a little noted green light in the Feb. 23 budget. However, it could take at least three years to bring Service Canada to the point where decisions can be made by the cabinet on its ultimate shape and status, according to Maryantonett Flumian.

Public sector managers need a sound understanding of what information technology can actually deliver, says Peter Barnes. Barnes, a former Secretary to Cabinet in Ontario who is now a Toronto-based management consultant, told this year

New Brunswick has launched a pay-as-you-go electronic online land registry that has become a big hit with customers even though it has only been partly implemented.

Karen Evans is the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology at the Office of Management and Budget in the White House. In this role, she oversees implementation of IT throughout the U.S. federal government.