Informatisation of Regional Public Administration - the Prince Edward Island Experience
Mr. Bill Drost, Chief Information Officer for the Province of Prince Edward Island will present their experience the impacts of information technology on society and the economy. He will examine four or five case studies where technology has been used by government to improve the economy and the quality of life of its citizens. The use of information technology to deliver better services to citizens and business can be a valuable economic and social development tool. Despite its small size (or because of its small size), Prince Edward Island has been a Canadian and world leader in a number of these areas.
Canada was the first country in the world to connect all public schools and libraries to the internet and Prince Edward Island was the first province in Canada to achieve this important milestone.
In the Heath Care sector, Mr. Drost will profile the important and interesting work done with tele-hospice. With the assistance of technology, terminally ill patients can now spend their last days in their homes with family instead of in a hospital.
Tourism is the second most important sector of Prince Edward Island's economy. The government website, www.gov.pe.ca, is widely regarded as one of the best tourism websites in the world. Through the government website and other technology tools, visitors are able to plan their vacations far in advance.
Tele-democracy is the uncharted area of government and citizen interaction. Participation in the democratic process is a passion and obligation for Prince Edward citizens. Voter participation is always over 80 percent and the highest in Canada. Prince Edward Island has implemented live streaming broadcasts of legislative proceedings and other means of citizen interaction with its politicians using technology.
Economic activity in government and the private sector has given growth to healthy industry creating high paying jobs in the information technology sector. Mr. Drost will discuss the growth of the IT industry and the formation of the Information Technology Association of Prince Edward Island (ITAP).
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Bill Drost
Bill Drost lives in the most beautiful and smallest province in Canada. It is called Prince Edward Island and sits in the North Atlantic Ocean north-east of New York and west of Newfoundland. Although the economy on the Island has struggled in the past, it currently has economic growth leading the country fueled by agriculture, fisheries, aquiculture and tourism. In recent years, the information technology sector has substantially contributed to the Province's success.
Bill Drost was born and raised in eastern Canada on a family farm. After completing his degree in engineering, he began work with a number of international food companies then became the Facility Manager of Canada's most complex and technologically advanced bioconta…
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