DRAUDE MEETS WITH REGINA IT INDUSTRY LEADERS

Information Technology Office Minister June Draude will meet today and tomorrow in Regina with some of the province's leading IT professionals, to discuss issues of importance to the industry.

"Our information technology sector is an increasingly important part of Saskatchewan's economy, both directly and in the role it plays in enabling other industries to expand and prosper," Draude said. "As an integral component of our government's growth agenda, it's important that we understand the issues our IT leaders feel are important to their industry's expansion."

Topics to be discussed include research and development, technology commercialization and increasing the pool of skilled labour available to the IT industry. In addition, Draude will seek input on how best the government can leverage the innovation of the private sector to deliver and improve the programs and services it provides to Saskatchewan citizens and businesses.

"The government depends substantially on the sector to help provide its internal IT services, with more than 60 per cent of its IT business supplied by private sector firms," Draude said. "We want to explore how we can strengthen that partnership even further to the benefit of both taxpayers and the industry.

"I look forward to listening to our province's IT leaders and carrying their ideas forward to my government colleagues as we continue to implement our growth agenda for Saskatchewan and its people," Draude said.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Murray
Information Technology Office
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9586