US, UK, and AUS Make Open Data Announcements. Where's Canada?

Posted by Jennifer Bell on 2009-12-14 20:13:17

Last week saw three big open data announcements, from governments on three continents:

In the US, the Obama administration released an 11-page Open Government Directive, the culmination of 2009's Open Government Initiative public consultation process. The directive's language is concrete and actionable, even including specific dates for implementation milestones. Here's a sample:

  • To the extent practicable and subject to valid restrictions, agencies should publish information online in an open format that can be retrieved, downloaded, indexed, and searched by commonly used web search applications. An open format is one that is platform independent, machine readable, and made available to the public without restrictions that would impede the re-use of that information.
  • To the extent practical and subject to valid restrictions, agencies should proactively use modern technology to disseminate useful information, rather than waiting for specific requests under FOIA.
  • Within 45 days, each agency shall identify and publish online in an open format at least three high-value data sets (see attachment section 3.a.i) and register those data sets via Data.gov. These must be data sets not previously available online or in a downloadable format.
  • Within 60 days, each agency shall create an Open Government Webpage located at http://www.[agency].gov/open to serve as the gateway for agency activities related to the Open Government Directive and shall maintain and update that webpage in a timely fashion.

In the UK, Her Majesty's Government released its Smarter Government Action Plan, which sets out "how Government will improve public service outcomes while achieving the fiscal consolidation that is vital to helping the economy grow". The first part of the plan, "Strengthen the role of citizens and civic society", includes a set of actions on "Radically opening up data and promoting transparency". Items here include:

  • Releasing public datasets and making them free for reuse, with several data sets listed as a first priority for the next year.
  • Making government data accessible through a single access point at http://www.data.gov.uk/ by January 2010
  • Creating new ways for citizens to interact with public services and public policy -- specifically mentioning a program for public comment on all aspects of the UK's National Heath Service by December 2010.

Australia's Government 2.0 Task Force published a set of draft recommendations for engaging citizens in the business of government.

Recommendation #6 is "Make Public Sector Information open, accessible and reusable". Here's a sample of what they're saying down under:

By default, Public Sector Information (PSI) (..) should be:

  • free (provided at no cost in the absence of substantial marginal costs);
  • based on open standards;
  • easily discoverable;
  • understandable (supported by metadata that will aid in the understanding the quality and interpretability of the information);
  • machine-readable; and
  • freely reusable (not having limitation on derivative uses).

In a move relevant to Canada, and other former colonies, the Australia task force has chosen to follow New Zealand’s lead in recommending that Crown Copyright be abandoned, and replaced with CC-BY as the default licence for all government data.

Note: It's terrific to see the thinking of Canadian advocate David Eaves included in the Australian Task Force recommendations.

Implications for Canada:

With co-ordinated releases from three major western governments, it’s safe to say that the demand for accessible, searchable, and useable government information is no longer a fringe issue. Yet the Canadian federal government stays silent. As Michael Geist said this morning in the Toronto Star:

“These new initiatives herald a dramatic shift in the way governments use the Internet to make themselves more transparent and useful to their citizens. They may also leave Canadians asking if their government is not prepared to lead, then why not at least follow?”

Lack of awareness is not the issue: representatives from Canada’s Treasury Board meet regularly with CIOs from the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand in what’s called the 'Five Nations CIO Council’ to exchange plans and information. What’s missing is political support from either those who set national policy in Canada or their critics in parliament.

With the government in the middle of a stimulus program which is at present mostly electronically un-traceable, and whose results will be largely un-knowable, it’s not surprising that the powers that be would shy away from adopting policies promoting greater transparency. What’s puzzling is that the opposition parties have not yet found a way to leverage this international movement to their benefit.