ON-LINE SERVICE OPTIONS POPULAR WITH PUBLIC

Released on September 17, 2004

An increasing number of people are turning to the Internet to access Saskatchewan Government services and information.

Since its launch in August 2000, more than 9 million people have accessed information and services available through the Government of Saskatchewan central Web portal. In the past year nearly 3 million users accessed the portal, an increase of more than 92 per cent from its first year of operation. In addition, government employees have responded to nearly 19,000 public requests for services and information received through email contact forms located on the central Web portal.

"Our government's investment in technology is paying off in a big way," Minister Responsible for Information Technology Andrew Thomson said. "The government's central Web portal has allowed us to improve our service delivery not only to Saskatchewan citizens, but to people around the world who are interested in our province and its goods and services. The portal has also allowed our own employees to work more effectively and efficiently, by providing quick access to information when dealing with clients."

Operated by the Information Technology Office, the central Web portal serves as a marketing tool for the province, provides a point-of-contact for the public, supplies basic information about the province, offers basic information on government programs, and provides quick access to major government services. It also acts as a "jumping-off" point to detailed information and services available on the many Web sites operated by individual departments and agencies.

In addition to the central Web portal, a number of other major on-line services available on various government department, agency and Crown corporation Web sites are also proving to be popular with the public:

- more than 27,000 provincial tax transactions and nearly 15,000 farm fuel rebate transactions have been submitted through Saskatchewan Finance's on-line "Saskatchewan Electronic Tax Service" (SETS) since the service was launched in September 2001;

- more than 600,000 users have visited the Queen's Printer "Freelaw" on-line legislation Web site since its launch in October 2001;

- more than 3,400 people have made change of address requests since the launch in June 2003 of "ExpressAddress", a partnership service offered by SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SGI, the City of Regina and City of Saskatoon;

- more than 5,700 payments have been made through Saskatchewan Justice's on-line fine payment service since its launch in April 2003; and

- more than 37,000 people applied on-line in the past eighteen months for the province's big game draw, while more than 700 purchased hunting licenses and more than 500 bought fishing licenses through Saskatchewan Environment's Web site.

"Our province has made great strides in on-line service delivery in the past few years, including the launch of e-learning initiatives such as Campus Saskatchewan and our on-line Evergreen Curriculum Resources for teachers, administrators, parents and students," Thomson said. "Saskatchewan people are demanding these kinds of innovative service solutions, and we will continue to make them a priority."

Resources:

Gov't of Sask. Central Web Portal: www.gov.sk.ca
Sask. Electronic Tax Service (SETS): www.gov.sk.ca/finance/revenue/efile
Freelaw: www.qp.gov.sk.ca
ExpressAddress: www.expressaddress.com
On-line Fine Payments: www.finepayment.justice.gov.sk.ca
Big Game Draw: https://secure.se.gov.sk.ca/biggame
Hunting and Fishing Licenses: www.se.gov.sk.ca/fishwild/licence/
Campus Saskatchewan: www.campussaskatchewan.ca
Evergreen Curriculum: www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/branches/curr/evergreen

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For More Information, Contact:

Art Newton Information Technology Office Regina Phone: (306) 787-2215