Canadian Open Data Summit Kicks Off in Saint John
SAINT JOHN–Today is a big day for open data in New Brunswick. The 2016 Canadian Open Data Summit kicked off in Saint John yesterday and continues today with lectures and panels on the implications and benefits of open data.
In his opening remarks at the summit this morning, Premier Brian Gallant took the opportunity to announce a new open data policy that is meant to open up data and information held by the government departments to make it available to everyone.
“The establishment of an open data policy will foster new start-up businesses, increase transparency and enable New Brunswickers to help solve some of the challenges our province is facing,” said Gallant. “Providing access to big data is a crucial step for New Brunswick to become the smart province.”
The goals of the open data policy are listed as increasing transparency, improving public trust and citizen engagement, enhancing research, science and innovation, facilitating the creation of new businesses and services and improving government services.
“Exciting things are happening in New Brunswick with the nb+ digital lab, open data and digital government,” said Cathy Simpson, VP public sector of T4G and tech lead of nb+. “Open data is the next frontier in advancing our Smart Province Initiative. We are confident that the province’s open data policy can be implemented successfully while respecting privacy and confidentiality as it has been done in other provinces across the country.”
Summit attendees have weighed in on what they think of the policy announcement and open data commentary in general with the hashtag #CODS16 on Twitter. Check out what people have been saying: