News release

Barrington Passage, Shelburne To Test Drive Government@YourService

Economic Development (Aug. 1999 - Jan. 2009)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Barrington Passage, Shelburne To Test Drive Government@YourService


Barrington Passage and Shelburne are two of six communities across Nova Scotia that are participating in a new Internet service pilot project.

Government@YourService is an online program that gives people a new and easier way to use the Internet to access government services.

The Community Access Project -- or CAP site -- at the Youth Services Centre in Barrington Passage and the McKay Memorial Library in Shelburne have trained staff members and volunteers to encourage citizens to use the new online resources. Other communities involved in the project are Sheet Harbour, Halifax, Main-a-Dieu and Glace Bay.

"Government@YourService organizes things by topic relevant to the citizens of Nova Scotia," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Economic Development, the provincial agency responsible for CAP sites in Nova Scotia.

Currently, government organizes access to services by department. Through the technical leadership of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, searches can now be customized to the individual's specific needs. "This should make it easier to find what you're looking for, whether that's a marriage license, information on education or retirement, or help in replacing identification when you've lost your wallet," said Mr. Fage.

The project is being implemented with the assistance of Nova Scotia's network of CAP sites. The sites are community-based technology centres that can be found in more than 300 locations across the province at libraries and other centres where communities gather.

"Libraries are a natural partner in this project," said Trudy Amirault, library director, Western Counties Regional Library. "When people need information, the first place they look is often their local library. Whether the service that's needed is on paper or online, libraries can help, making projects like this one such a valuable part of our CAP partnership."

Originally set up under Industry Canada and the province, CAP sites continue to receive limited support but recognize they have to stay relevant to citizens to remain in business. Government@YourService enables CAP sites to stay current by providing access to resources from all three levels of government.

"This is a great opportunity for CAP sites to evolve and sustain themselves over the long term," said Mr. Fage. "We hope projects like this one will help the CAP network provide a valuable new service to citizens while expanding the CAP site's role as a community resource centre."

Assessments of the pilot may help expand the project to CAP sites and libraries in other communities in 2005.

The project is being piloted at the following six CAP sites:
Youth Services Centre: 3533 Highway 3, Barrington Passage McKay Memorial Library: 254 Water St., Shelburne Main-A-Dieu Community Centre: 2886 Main-A-Dieu Rd., Main-a-Dieu Glace Bay Public Library: 121 Union St., Glace Bay Bluewater CAP Site: 22756 Highway 7, Sheet Harbour Captain William Spry Public Library: 10 Kidston Rd., Spryfield