Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A deputy ministers committee called the Informatics Policy Committee coordinates the development and information management in the territorial government, which is mandated by the Financial Management Board Secretariat to try to bring interdepartmental coordination and a government wide approach to the way we use and develop technology.
That committee has flagged some of the very issues the Member has raised about interdepartmental coordination, standardization and common approaches as a problem area that does have to be addressed.
We recently commissioned a study of how we were using the digital communication network and what some of the issues were associated with that. In that report, they also echoed the concern that we as an organization need to bring a greater level of consistency and standardization and overall management to the IT function in the government.
Part of the strategy will be designed to look at exactly that issue. Knowing that we have to do that, what is the best way to organize, to be able to achieve those greater efficiencies and that better coordination and standardization. And what does that mean with respect to what authorities each department has with respect to their systems versus what parts or aspects of their systems they have to defer to a common standard for government? What level of authority do they have to initiate systems work and manage those projects?
That is a fundamental aspect of what we are trying to address. It may lead to some organizational change. It will probably lead to some recommendations for a change in authorities over systems. I will not presume on what the final recommendations will be. That is why we are doing the study. It is certainly recognized as a problem and recognized that it has to be addressed thoroughly in this process. Thank you.