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Shared Services Canada Taps into IT Industry Knowledge
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Nov 22, 2012 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, and Minister responsible for Shared Services Canada, today launched a roundtable that brings together Government and representatives of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector on a regular basis to help shape the Government of Canada's IT transformation agenda.
"We want to work with the ICT sector to draw on innovative, proven industry solutions as we transform the Government of Canada's technology platform," said Minister Ambrose. "Their input is vital to helping Shared Services Canada develop a more efficient, secure and cost-effective IT infrastructure to serve Canadians."
Participants in the Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable (ITIR) will include leading members of the Information Technology Association of Canada, the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, the Canadian Business Information Technology Network, Invest Ottawa, the Canadian Information Technology Providers Association and Communitech, as well as academics and other experts. SSC intends to solicit the support and the participation of additional regional associations over the coming months. The ITIR will be chaired by Liseanne Forand, President of Shared Services Canada.
In addition to the quarterly ITIR meetings, four issue-specific advisory committees will focus on developing standards for security, data, applications and technologies; discussing access to innovative technology; adopting best practices for procurement; and defining how the Government will source email, data centres and telecommunications. These committees will be led by SSC, with membership from other government departments and the ICT sector, and will report back to the Roundtable's quarterly meetings.
All information presented at the ITIR and advisory committee meetings, including lists of participants and summaries of discussions, will be made available on the SSC website at http://www.ssc-spc.gc.ca/pages/itir-triti/roundtable-tablerond-eng.html.
Backgrounder
Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable
Shared Services Canada (SSC) recognizes the value and the contribution of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and the important role that sector can play in the transformation of the Government of Canada's IT infrastructure. To that end, SSC is hosting quarterly Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable (ITIR) meetings with representatives from the ICT sector. The first meeting of the roundtable will take place November 22, 2012.
History
The Harper Government created SSC on August 4, 2011, to fundamentally transform how the government manages its IT infrastructure. During the fall of 2011, SSC officials met with representatives from the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA). They also met with associations that have a more local base, such as the Canadian Business Information Technology Network (CABiNET) and the Canadian Information Technology Providers Association (CITPA).
As a result of this engagement, SSC established the ITIR, a forum that will bring together representatives of the ICT sector and the government to support on-going substantive dialogue concerning the Government of Canada's IT transformation agenda.
Objectives
The purpose of the ITIR is to undertake early, open and ongoing consultation on the long-term IT transformation agenda and emerging technologies; to validate approaches and provide guidance on complex issues; and to contribute best industry solutions that can help the government achieve value for money, sound stewardship, innovation and service excellence.
The ITIR will also provide an opportunity for the ICT sector to address issues of interest to the industry. Information shared and discussed at the meetings will be made available publicly through SSC's website.
Throughout the ITIR discussions, SSC will continue to be driven by its guiding principles developed at the outset of the industry engagement process, which include fairness, transparency, inclusiveness, integrity, market-based competition and innovation.
Membership
The ITIR will be chaired by Liseanne Forand, President, SSC. SSC representation will also include Grant Westcott, Chief Operating Officer, as Vice-Chair, and senior officials responsible for various elements of the IT infrastructure transformation agenda.
The ITIR will include leading representatives from ITAC, CATA, CABiNET, CITPA, Invest Ottawa and Communitech. In the interest of rounding out available expertise and input, SSC may invite others to participate over time.
Representatives from Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Industry Canada will also hold a permanent membership.
Advisory Committees
The ITIR will be supported by four advisory committees, which will address specific areas where SSC requires the input and expertise of the ICT sector to move forward on its transformation agenda. Chaired by SSC senior officials, these committees are:
-- The Architecture Framework Advisory Committee;
-- The Innovative Canadian Enterprises Advisory Committee;
-- The Procurement Benchmarks Advisory Committee; and
-- The Smart Sourcing Advisory Committee.
More Information
SSC will post information on upcoming ITIR roundtable and advisory committee meetings on its website at http://www.ssc-spc.gc.ca/pages/itir-triti/roundtable-tablerond-eng.html. ICT organizations are welcome to visit the site to view schedules, meeting summaries and copies of presentation materials shared at meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Michelle Bakos
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421
Media Relations Office Shared Services Canada 613-947-6276 Media@ssc-spc.gc.ca
SOURCE: Shared Services Canada
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