GOL Overview
Government On-line (GOL) was the Government of Canada's initiative to make the 130 most commonly used services available on-line, anywhere, anytime, and in both official languages by 2005. The goal of this initiative is to use information and communication technology to provide Canadians with enhanced access to improved citizen-centered, integrated services.
The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) has integrated its information on the management of the federal government by enhancing the TBS Web site, exploiting new communication media and offering an automated web-based application for reporting purposes to departments and agencies. The Secretariat works continuously to identify key horizontal enablers that enhance the level of client service to both internal to government and external clients.
This public report describes the progress made on GOL initiatives within TBS.
Our Priorities
TBS is tasked with providing advice and support to Treasury Board Ministers in their role of ensuring value for money as well as providing oversight of the financial management functions in departments and agencies. The priorities of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat are organized in four key areas. The four priority areas are:
- enhance governance, accountability, and management practices;
- strengthen expenditure and financial management;
- improve service delivery and government operations; and
- contribute to the people and human resources modernization agenda.
Key GOL Services
TBS is committed to ensuring that its on-line information is accessible to all of its users and that the information is accurate, timely and can be easily located.
As the management board for the Government of Canada, TBS works with departments and agencies to improve management practices across the public service. Although most of the work carried out by TBS does not directly affect the public at large, its policies, directives and guidelines are followed by departments and agencies in their delivery of programs and services to Canadians. In fact, departments and agencies routinely rely on timely and accurate information from TBS to carry out their activities.
1. Web Redesign
In an effort to ensure easier access to its on-line information and to meet the Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet, TBS restructured and redesigned its departmental Web site. The project's goal was to make the site more user-friendly by improving the way the information was organized, accessed and displayed. Information is increasingly tailored to the various audiences and specialized portals. As well, users can subscribe to an automated e-mail alert feature to receive a notification when key documents are posted. This feature is especially useful for members of the media.
Custom on-line applications now enable other federal departments to electronically report back to TBS on a multitude of issues. Other planned web improvements will allow users to find information by policy, by organization, by keywords, by topics and subjects and by community.
The redesign has also well-positioned TBS for other on-line improvements that foster horizontal collaboration and provide Canadians and the media with a single-window view into the federal government. For example, the TBS site serves as a central location to access government-wide information disclosed under the various Proactive Disclosure initiatives. Users can link to relevant information by initiative (e.g. Travel and Hospitality, Contracts over 10,000$) or by organization (including non-subject organizations that have chosen to implement the initiative).
2. Expenditure Management and Performance Information on Line
TBS is committed to continuously improving its ability to quickly connect its audiences with the information they seek.
Upon tabling Canada’s Performance 2005 in November 2005, TBS introduced a new on-line tool titled “Aboriginal Affairs Programs and Spending”. Coupled with the on-line version of Canada’s Performance that presents an additional layer of information to the paper version, this new tool provides governments and citizens with current financial and non-financial information on the federal suite of programs targeted to First Nations people, Métis people, and the Inuit. It also provides a comprehensive view of government performance and spending on all federal programs directly targeted to Aboriginal people while at the same time serving as a pilot to a new approach for managing horizontal issues across the federal government.
Eventually, other key horizontal initiatives that could adopt this approach are Greening Government Operations and Climate Change. These new mechanisms for sharing on-line information promote greater accountability and transparency on key government-wide priorities.
A key enabler to the data collection for these tools is the establishment of a Program Activity Architecture (PAA) for horizontal initiatives. The PAA serves as the structure for the electronic backbone that holds the financial and non-financial information. It allows users to browse the information by theme, by department or by target group.
These efforts are also very closely linked to other important initiatives such as Improved Reporting to Parliament and strengthening Treasury Board’s budget office role.
Conclusion
While the GOL initiative is sunsetting, TBS will continue to look at innovative ways to provide information on government expenditures and the overall management of the Federal Government.
For more information, please contact:
Charles Brisebois
Manager, Web Services
Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R5
Telephone: (613) 957-2301
Facsimile: (613) 998-9071
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