GTEC Blog

Increasingly, governments in developed countries are looking to sustainable procurement to rescue their foundering economies under the guise of “green” or “sustainable” procurement.

The United Nations has recently published a statement to this effect: “As the most influential purchasers in a national economy, who spend typically 15% to 30% of GDP on a diverse and wide range of goods and services, governments can drive the market for sustainable products through their procurement policies”.

Although the logical leaps from procurement policy to job creation are not large, there is yet little evidence to suggest the best ways to undertake these programs.

For instance, should governments be focused in creating certain types of jobs (e.g., goods vs. services, different types of technologies, etc.)? And if so, how does that manifest in procurement policy? Will prioritizing a “greening of the economy” also result in successful sustainability outcomes for governments?

Nevertheless, below is an abbreviated list of some procurement strategies that are being used across the world to assist in a “greening of the economy”.

·         Engage the private sector and other stakeholders early on to better understand needs, capabilities, capacities, etc.

·         Build people capacity with training, information sharing and tools / methodologies.

·         Collect quick wins through pilot projects and build from your successes.

·         As always, consider alternatives to actually procuring the good or service: rethink need, use less, re-use, recycle, recover energy, negotiate end-of-life management options, etc.

·         Embed changes to procurement processes including naming of projects, specification definitions, evaluation methodologies and performance criteria.

·         Seeking joint buying to provide additional economic scale to smaller suppliers of sustainable technologies.

 

 

Thank you for participating in GTEC 2008. 

 

This past year was a year of change for GTEC, as we successfully transitioned to the Westin from the Ottawa Congress Centre.  There was a definite buzz on the show floor and at the conference.

 

In 2009, GTEC will continue to stress the importance of collaboration and innovation.  Perhaps with a greater focus on innovation and inter-jurisdictional cooperation, GTEC will continue to explore how government 2.0 technologies can reshape the relationship with the citizen.  We hope to provide more content on how Citizens can see government through a single window, through web and other technologies that permit them to receive services without the burden of needing to know “who” is delivering them.  Identity management and security, government culture and web 2.0 technologies, life-cycle management and innovation will continue to be threads that link our conference content to the primary issues government and industry are facing in the near term.

 

We look forward to sharing details on 2009 as they emerge.

Health Canada, City of Ottawa, Alberta receive four medals each

 

GTEC 2008, last night revealed the medal winners of thirty-five Distinction Awards given at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.  The awards recognized outstanding public sector leadership in innovation, in federal, provincial, municipal and national classifications.  From close to 100 nominations in 2008, the thirty-five medals were given in categories such as International Partnerships, Service Delivery to Citizens and Businesses, and Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships, to name a few.  

 

Health Canada, the City of Ottawa, and the province of Alberta each took four medals for achievements in categories such as Service Delivery to Citizens and Businesses and IT Operations.  CRA took away two medals for projects in Service Delivery to Citizens and Business and IT Operations. 

 

John Bethel, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services of British Columbia, was given a Gold Medal Leadership award for his outstanding service in helping the B.C. government execute 10 ASD deals worth $1.8 billion, with a projection that they will generate $550 million in financial benefits to the government in addition to significant non-financial benefits.

 

The Judging Process

SCOAP (Society of Collaborative Opportunities and Advancement of Professionals), a non-profit association dedicated to exploring achievement and issues related to the management of information and technology in a knowledge-based society, provides the selection committee, the judging committee comprised of more than 30 members of SCOAP, and the awards methodology to the GTEC Distinction Awards.   Nominations are reviewed in two separate processes, which include the screening and initial evaluation of all nominations, and the selection of Award Finalists. The a full description of the process can be found at http://www.gtec.ca/distinction-awards/judging-process.php

 

“The Distinction Awards celebrate technology and innovation throughout industry and Government, which is driving better collaboration, reducing costs, and improving efficiencies and service delivery to Canadians,” said Kevin d’Entremont, Executive Director of GTEC 2008.  “Many of the initiatives have demonstrated significant change and tremendous innovation.  We are proud to recognize major IT projects and the accomplishments of industry and Government’s top IT leaders, their innovative teams, and their contribution to improve services available to citizens across Canada.” 

 

Please see the following pages for a list of all the GTEC Distinction Award Medalists.

 

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About GTEC 2008

After more than 15 years, GTEC is recognized as Canada’s most significant forum on the use of technology to improve government services and operations. The event features an annual Distinction Awards program and gala, a comprehensive Professional Development Forum, and the GTEC Exhibition. The conference program and extensive trade show are attended annually by an estimated 7,000 professionals.  For more information please visit www.gtec.ca

 

 

 

 

Group I:  Federal Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

BRONZE

 

The Working in Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/tool)

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Skills and Employment Branch

 

SILVER

 

Apply for Child Benefits Program – Benefits Online Application (BOA)Team

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Assessment & Benefit Services Branch and Information Technology Branch

 

GOLD

 

First Nations and Inuit Health, Public Health Surveillance (HAS) Capacity Development Project

Health Canada, Alberta Region
Public Affairs, Consultation and Regions Branch

 

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

SILVER

 

Electronic Pesticide Regulatory System (e-PRS)

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

 

SILVER

 

Containing Costs Through National IM/IT Efficiencies

Transport Canada
Technology and Information Management Services Directorate

 

GOLD

 

IT Sustainability Project - DFO

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Information Management and Technology Services

 

Category C:  IT Operations

 

BRONZE

 

Disaster Recovery for Receiver General and Central Compensation Administration Project

Public Works and Government Services Canadaš(PWGSC)
Accounting, Banking and Compensation

 

SILVER

 

GST/ HST Redesign Project

Canada Revenue Agency
Assessment & Benefit Services Branch and Information Technology Branch

 

GOLD

 

Health Canada’s The Way Forward Initiative - An Enterprise Approach to IT

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch

 

 Group II:  Provincial Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

BRONZE

 

From In-line to Online – Restructuring Alberta’s Student Finance Program

Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta
Adult Learning - Learner Assistance

 

GOLD

 

Court Services Online Project Team

Business Transformation & Change Management and Strategic Information & Business Applications
Court Services Branch – Government of British Columbia

 

GOLD

 

Nova Scotia iPHIM Project to deliver eResults

Nova Scotia Department of Health
Primary Health Care

 

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

BRONZE

 

Wildland Fire Reporting System - DNR/GNB

Natural Resources, Province of New Brunswick

 

SILVER

 

GEM (Grants Enterprise Management)

Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology - Province of Alberta, Information Technology Management  (ITM) a branch of Technology Commercialization

 

GOLD

 

Facilities Management Information System (FMIS)

Ministry of the Attorney General
Facilities Management Branch

 

 

Group III:  Municipal Awards

Category A:  Service Delivery to Citizens & Businesses

 

SILVER

 

eRide – Online Trip Planner

Works and Transportation, Corporation of the
City of Brampton - Brampton Transit

 

SILVER

 

G.I.S. Flood Mapping Application

City of Medicine Hat
Information & Computer Services (I.C.S.)
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.)

 

GOLD

 

eFootprint Application on www.ottawa.ca

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

Category B:  Internal Business Operations

 

GOLD

 

Social Housing Administration Management Information System (SHAMIS)

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

Category C:  IT Operations

 

GOLD

 

Mainframe Migration

City of Windsor
Information Technology Department

 

Group IV:  National Awards

Category A:  Information Management

 

BRONZE

 

Ottawa.ca – Usability & Accessibility Improvements

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

SILVER

 

Accountability Pillar Online Reporting Initiative (APORI)

Alberta Education, Performance Measurement and Reporting
Information Technology Management

 

GOLD

 

SOSS – Sign-Out Security System

British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range
Information Management Branch

 

Category B:  Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships

 

BRONZE

 

Arts & Cultural Events Calendar (Spotlight)

City of Ottawa - Business Transformation Services
Information Technology Services

 

SILVER

 

Windsor Regional Construction Traffic Management System

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
Central Region Advanced Traffic Management

 

GOLD

 

Parental Benefit Exchange Project Team

Service Canada
Innovation, Information and Technology Branch (IITB)

 

Category C: International Partnerships

 

SILVER

 

Canadian e-Policy Resource Centre (CePRC)

Canada School of Public Service
Organizational Leadership and Innovation

 

GOLD

 

Health Product Electronic Submissions (e-Submissions)

Health Canada
Corporate Services Branch/ Information Management Services Directorate

 

Category D:  Pilot Projects

 

SILVER

 

Service Qualification and Transition for IT Shared Services

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)
Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB)

 

GOLD

 

NRCan Resource Wiki

Natural Resources Canada
Information Management Branch

 

Category E:  The Human Dimension

 

BRONZE

 

Organizational Readiness Office

Treasury Board Secretariat
Chief Information Officer’s Branch

 

SILVER

 

Research and Development Team/ Creating Innovative Learning Solutions for Maintaining Language Skills

Canada School of Public Service
Individual Learning

 

GOLD

 

Videoconferencing in the K-12 Education System

Alberta Education
Stakeholder Technology Branch

 

Category F:  Unique Achievements

 

GOLD

           

Joint Information & Intelligence Fusion Capability Detachment Ops/Web Support Team

National Defence
Strategic Joint Staff/Director General Operations

 

Group V:  Leadership Awards

 

GOLD

 

John Bethel

Assistant Deputy Minister - Alternative Service Delivery

Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services of British Columbia

 

A Procurement Exchange partner, PPI Consulting, recently hosted Shaun McCarthy from ActionSustainability. ActionSustainability is at the forefront of sustainable procurement activities in the UK, and Shaun is a founder of that firm.

If nothing else, the event highlighted the philosophical and technical decisions that need to be made to implement a fully functioning sustainable procurement program.

Some of the key questions that I took away from the session included:

·         How far down our supply chain should we be concerned about? Do we care about the activities of our suppliers’ suppliers?

·         How does one create a traditional business case for improved social, economic and environmental benefits? Should a traditional business case be required?

·         How can we avoid the adverse consequences of silo’ed budgeting practices on making sustainability decisions?

·         Should our suppliers be able to charge a premium for sustainability? In many cases, shouldn’t sustainability result in less expensive products?

·         How can we effectively lead our supply chain? What policies do we need in place in order to have the credibility to impose new sustainability requirements on our supply chain?

There is no simple answer to any of these questions. But I don’t think there is any debate whether sustainable procurement is part of our future. So, I’ll endeavour to keep on top of new developments in this area that I can share through the blog.

With less than 24 hours to go until the Distinction Award, Gala host and host of CTV Ottawa’s TechNOW, Paul Brent, produced a feature about about 3 hopefuls for tomorrow night’s medal ceremony.  To learn more about the story, go to the CTV Web site.