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It was wounderful changing to the common signature. This change will be another interesting experience. :
Federal agency to slash IT costs
By Laura Payton, CBC News
Posted: Aug 4, 2011 11:06 AM ET
Last Updated: Aug 4, 2011 11:43 AM ET
The federal government is setting up a new agency to streamline IT systems in government, Treasury Board President Tony Clement will announce Thursday.
It's part of the government's effort to cut costs and balance the budget by 2014.
Government departments tend to run their own IT programs, so not all of them use the same software.
The agency aims to move to one email system, among other changes, and reduce the government's data network.
Clement and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose will make the announcement Thursday afternoon in Ottawa.
Clement spoke Thursday morning to a business audience in Halifax, where his prepared remarks referred to using technology to modernize how the government works.
Lower costs, more efficiency
In a speech to top-level public servants in June, he said it was clear more needs to be done to standardize and consolidate across government.
"This brings to mind recent innovations such as shared services arrangements between departments," Clement said in his prepared remarks.
"These arrangements are not only a phenomenal way to pool expertise. They also contribute to lowering costs and making the government even more effective and efficient."
"We'll be taking a look at the operational spending that occurs across government, and asking the hard questions. Should we still be doing this — and doing it in this way? Does this have to be delivered by this organization? Why does it cost as much as it does? Can we find savings? Is it achieving the expected results efficiently? Is this a government priority, and is it affordable during a period of fiscal restraint? Are we achieving value for money?"
All government departments are reviewing their programs to find at least five per cent in cuts as part of the budget-balancing exercise.
It was wounderful changing to the common signature. This change will be another interesting experience. :