Canadian E-Services

From the Globe and Mail:
"Canadians want more government e-services, but don’t want to pay for them: study"

Canadians are already more likely to go the online route when accessing government services — when the option is actually available, that is — and want more digital choices to avoid having to pick up the phone, use snail mail or wait in line, suggests a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada.

The availability of government e-services varies across the country. For example, some provinces allow residents to apply for birth certificates online, while others still require the submission of an application in person or by mail. Service Canada offers Canadians e-services including online applications for employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. The results indicate Canadians are comfortable using digital means to interact with governments, said Domenic Belmonte, an associate partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada. When asked what was stopping them from using government e-services, nearly half of all those surveyed said their lack of knowledge about their options was the biggest reason. Over 80 per cent of those surveyed said they were interested in receiving automatic notifications — presumably on their phone or via email — at times when government services might be applicable to them. As an example, the report suggests new parents might get an electronic message shortly after having a baby with information about next steps and paperwork to deal with. While Canadians seemed eager to embrace new digital services, they expected them to be free. More than 70 per cent said they wouldn’t pay for the new services, although 19 per cent said they would definitely pay to jump a line or wait list.

^ I like this idea (of free e-services) and would like to see them more both in Canada and the US. It is the second decade of the 21st Century and online government services should already be a reality in every province/state as well as the Federal levels, but not everything is. Hopefully, this study will show world and local governments to provide more services online - for free. ^

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadians-want-more-government-e-services-but-dont-want-to-pay-for-them-study/article4406375/