SASKATCHEWAN TO BE FEATURED PROVINCE AT 2009 GTEC CONFERENCE

All eyes will be on the Province of Saskatchewan as this year's featured province at the upcoming 2009 Government Technology Exhibition and Conference (GTEC) in Ottawa. GTEC is Canada's premier forum on the use of technology to improve government services and operations and a world-class showcase of IT products.

"The Government of Saskatchewan views technology as one of the keys to building our province and sustaining our economic momentum," Minister responsible for the Information Technology Office Dan D'Autremont said. "Whether it's enhancing our research and development tax credit or developing more efficient government services through the adoption of technology, our goal is to make it easier for our private sector to develop the innovations that are helping to grow our province's economy."

Saskatchewan's delegation will be led by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). Saskatchewan will also exhibit some of the innovative ways it is using technology to improve services to its citizens and grow the economy, including:

• How its unique public-private trade organization STEP is helping companies to export Saskatchewan-developed technology around the world.
• The expansion of high-speed Internet coverage to every corner of the province.
• How centralization of IT services is creating opportunities to develop less expensive and more effective technology-based services for citizens.
• How major advancements in gathering, storing, processing and delivering of geographic information is helping the private and public sectors make better decisions.

"Strategic government investments and leveraging the private sector's knowledge is helping to improve citizen service delivery and creating opportunities for people across our province," D'Autremont said. "The GTEC conference is a perfect opportunity to showcase some of the innovative technology initiatives that are happening in Saskatchewan."

"GTEC is not just about the federal government, and neither is government service delivery," GTEC Executive Director Kevin d'Entremont said. "The truth is that communities and services are becoming increasingly interwoven and governments need to collaborate across jurisdictions to deliver services better. There are lessons to be learned from the provincial model for service delivery, and I am pleased that Saskatchewan's presence will highlight both private and public sector innovation."

More than 7000 participants are expected to take part in GTEC 2009, which takes place Monday, October 5 to Thursday, October 8 at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Murray
Information Technology Office
Regina, Phone: 306-787-9586
Email: rmurray@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-4758