Do citizens need to know what open data is?
In recent years there has been a strong emphasis on the need for municipalities to have open data catalogues. Intrinsically, we know that being open and transparent are good things, especially for a government, but why is open data important? In this discussion I will explore if citizens need to know what open data is or if open data should just be used as a foundational tool for governments to provide better access and services for citizens. As an emerging field now is the time to determine how an Open Government will work for all orders of government. Some questions that need to be answered are when establishing an Open Government initiative are -- What is the role of politicians? What is the role of the administration? And most importantly, how will citizens benefit?
Since 2009 the City of Edmonton has been actively involved in using technology to create a more open government. Attendees will gain insight into the City of Edmonton’s experiences with Open Data and Open Government, learn about their citizen-centric approach, and will hear about what’s next!
