Human Resources

Late last century, it became apparent that when government empowered its citizens, government empowered itself. What prevailed was a widespread acknowledgement that people knew more than governments did about what people wanted or needed. Citizens in the early 21st century want government to serve them as sensitively and efficiently as their bank, retail service provider or their car dealership.

Nearly a year after Microsoft introduced Windows Live OneCare, the company's first foray into the security market is still getting low marks from analysts and users.

After more than a decade of e-government analysis, discussion, policy debate and collaborative brainstorming, only one national program reaches out to all three levels of Canadian government. Five years after its conception, the small phenomenon that's known as BizPaL remains an isolated model of cross-jurisdictional service delivery. CIO Government Review catches up with the little licensing Web app that won't stop growing.

The common good is back in fashion. Across North America, from San Francisco to Fredericton, more than 200 crusading cities are building municipal Wi-Fi networks. Boosting business, providing Web access for poorer citizens, creating communal communications infrastructures: different cities have different missions driving their Wi-Fi projects.

Late last century, it became apparent that when government empowered its citizens, government empowered itself. What prevailed was a widespread acknowledgement that people knew more than governments did about what people wanted or needed. Citizens in the early 21st century want government to serve them as sensitively and efficiently as their bank, retail service provider or their car dealership.

The theft of a laptop from a SickKids physician has resulted in a swift order from Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ann Cavoukian. Cavoukian has ordered the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to implement specific protection mechanisms, including the strong encryption of any personal data that is taken off-site.

Part 1 of InterGovWorld's Spotlight on Donna Achimov, assistant deputy minister with Human Resources and Social Development, Service Canada. Achimov talks about read-to-me access to information, bundling services together, and how a degree in journalism kickstarted a career in public sector management.

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