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PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES NEW 
"CANADA SITE"

February 2, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today joined Treasury Board President Lucienne Robillard and Public Works and Government Services Minister Alfonso Gagliano to launch the redesigned Government of Canada Web site. The launch, which took place at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, marks a major milestone in the Government On-Line initiative.

"The new Canada Site is about helping Canadians do more of what they already are doing: surfing and using the Net to inform and empower themselves," said the Prime Minister. " It is about putting the Internet in the hands of citizens. It is about putting the best information and services on-line. Above all, it is about enhancing the quality of life and prosperity of all Canadians."

Visitors to the Canada Site at will now find it easier to access the information and services they need, in the official language of their choice, whether they are Canadian citizens, businesses or visitors from outside Canada. The new interface was developed in consultation with Canadians and designed according to their information needs.

The federal Government On-Line initiative will provide Canadians with electronic access to government services by 2004, as reaffirmed in the Speech from the Throne, January 30th, 2001. The Government On-Line initiative provides Canadians with another way to access the information and services they receive in person and by telephone. It is a key element of the Connecting Canadians Strategy aimed at making Canada the most connected nation in the world.

As President of Treasury Board, Minister Robillard is the lead government Minister for Government On-Line. As Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Mr. Gagliano is responsible for maintaining and updating the Canada Site.

A backgrounder on the Canada Site is attached.

 

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

 

Backgrounder

The Canada Site, canada.gc.ca, was first launched in 1995 to provide Canadians with Internet access to information and services provided by the Government of Canada. Since then, the site has been regularly reorganized and enhanced as new on-line information and services have become available. The Canada Site launched today is easier to navigate and more intuitive to use. Canada.gc.ca averages 2.5 million page requests per month.

On January 2, 2001, visitors to the Canada Site were introduced to many new features. Among them, the addition of three "gateways" to information and services for Canadians, businesses, and visitors to the site from outside of Canada. This new way of organizing information reflects what users of the site have said about how they would like information organized.

The Canadians gateway provides quick access to information on health, consumer protection, benefits, and jobs. Through this gateway, key communities of interest – Aboriginal peoples, children and youth, newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, and seniors – can easily find the things that mean most to them.

The business gateway links to information covering business start-up, employment, taxation, financing, and exporting.

The international gateway offers visitors and businesses from other countries a window on Canada and information to help them learn about our culture, or to make decisions about travelling, living, studying, and investing in Canada.

Additional features include links to the following:

· a "How do I…" feature that points to information about finding a job or replacing lost identification documents, applying for a passport, and other frequently-requested topics;

· frequently used forms, such as those required to apply for a social insurance number, a record of employment or a business number;

· frequently-asked questions and answers on subjects ranging from food and product recalls to special birthday greetings;

· a customization feature that allows frequent visitors to create a list of links that meet their individual needs;

· directories containing information on how to reach Members of Parliament and Senators, phone numbers and Internet addresses for government departments and agencies, the location of in-person service centres in Canada, and the co-ordinates for Canadian missions abroad.

The Canada Site and Government On-Line (GOL)

The Canada Site is an integral part of Government On-Line (GOL), a Government of Canada initiative to improve service to Canadians by providing information and services on the Internet. The Canada Site provides Canadians with another interactive choice to access the information and services they need.

The February 2000 Federal Budget allocated $160 million over two years (2000-2001 and 2001-2002) to develop and launch Government On-Line. In its first year, Government On-Line funding was allocated to redesign the Canada Site and to undertake projects called pathfinders, which will lead the way to new on-line services in the months and years ahead.

Like other governments, Canada has set an ambitious goal – to put its services on-line by 2004, to better connect with citizens. This goal was re-confirmed in the Speech from the Throne, January 30th, 2001 (). The redesign of the Canada Site launched today is a significant step forward.

For more information about Government On-Line visit or call:

Edison Stewart

Media Relations

Treasury Board Secretariat

(613) 941-0255

For more information about the Canada Site visit or call:

Diana Dowthwaite

Public Affairs and Media Relations

Public Works and Government Services Canada

(613) 956-2315


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