NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2011LCITZ0025-001640 Dec. 31, 2011

Ministry of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government

 

Making Progress: Open Data
Increasing transparency puts citizens at the centre

 

VICTORIA – Since its inception in July, B.C.’s Open Data initiative has successfully connected and engaged British Columbians in new and more meaningful ways.

 

This is just one more example of significant progress made by government in the last year to improve the lives of British Columbians and their families by creating and protecting jobs, by becoming more open and transparent, and by continuing to be fiscally responsible in these uncertain economic times.

 

The Province launched a new Open Information website this year, where people can find information requested through Freedom of Information, as well as ministers’ and deputy ministers’ travel expenses. The information provided on both of these sites has been accessed and used by researchers, university students, media, and enabled citizens to build creative applications, ask better questions and engage in discussions that will positively affect the lives of British Columbians. 

 

British Columbia is also the first province to create a site like DataBC, a catalogue of close to 2,700 (and growing daily) government-generated data sets that are free, searchable and available for anyone to use.

 

 

Quotes:

 

Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government –

 

“We have worked hard to make government information more accessible and more transparent. Citizens are using this data to create value and solve problems.”

 

Luke Closs, a founder of Vancouver’s open data community –

 

"I believe strongly in the importance of open data, and am really proud of the leadership shown by the government of B.C. Their actions encourage other municipalities, provinces and even the federal government to open up their data. As more governments buy in to Open Data, the citizens of B.C. will benefit even more, by building on the hacks, visualizations, apps, services and infrastructure created around the world."

 

 

Quick Facts:

 

·         DataBC currently has almost 2,700 sets of data. Recent additions include:

o   B.C. health practitioner and MSP expenditures.

o   Post-secondary graduate unemployment rates.

o   B.C. schools satisfaction survey results.

·         On average, one to two data sets per day are uploaded to DataBC.

·         Several hackathons have been held since the launch of DataBC, including a student codeathon hosted in part by the Ministry of Education in November.

·         Hackathons invite people to mash different datasets together to help understand issues or create solutions with little to no restrictions on direction or goal of the programming. For example, open data has enabled developers to create:

o   Visual representations of voter turnout versus number of eligible voters.

o   A recycling and garbage pickup reminder service.

o   An application that shows where all of the medical clinics in B.C. are located.

o   A mobile web application that helps you find nearby wineries.

 

 

Learn More:

 

Check out a wide range of government data at:  www.data.gov.bc.ca.

 

View recent FOI requests and travel expenses at:  www.openinfo.gov.bc.ca.

 

 

Contact:

David Greer Communications Director Ministry of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government 250 208-4350

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect