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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTR-51-99 '".: DN: TR- 51-99 REPOIlT 114 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON , REPORT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File # jJ li,(7E Res. # (!, 192.qq. Date: July 19, 1999 TR-51-99 FILE#: By-law # Report #: Subject: SMART COMMUNITIES DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report TR-51-99 be received for information; BACKGROUND 1. At a meeting held on June 28, 1999, Council passed the following resolution: "THAT Correspondence Item D - 16 be referred to staff for review and preparation of a report to be submitted to the General Purpose and Administration Committee." 2. The Smart Communities Demonstration Projects is a key component of the Government of Canada's Connecting Canadians initiative, whose goal is to make Canada the most connected nation in the world. The deadline to submit letters of intent for this program is August 3,1999. 3. The Smart Communities Program Guide (see Excerpt Attached) under the heading "Who should apply?", indicates that a community-based, not-for-profit corporation must represent the community. This would mean that the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington is not eligible to apply. 4. This Project would also require the Municipality to match up to $5 million federal funding. 5. There is a limit of one project in each province, therefore, the probability of Clarington being one of the 12 selected communities is relatively low due to the scope of this project and the monies required to match the initial investment by the federal government. REPORT NO.: TR.St.99 PAGE 2 6. In addition, the scope of the projects currently underway within the Systems area, ie. Y2K issues, new community services software, new fire dispatch system, and ongoing GIS conversions, along with the deadline of August 3, 1999 to have the letter of intent completed make the process not feasible. CONCLUSION Upon further review of the above-mentioned Project it is recommended to NOT pursue this application at this time. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, o h g..LJ( =-~LG arie Marano, H.B.Sc., A.M.C.T., Treasurer Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer. RVD*MM*NT*'s Attach. WHO SHOULD ApPLY? Attachment III ELIGIBLE COMMUNITIES Eligible communities are single municipalities, regional municipalities and groups of geogra- phically closely linked municipalities with a high degree of social and economic integration that are using information and communication technologies in new and innovative ways to meet a wide range of community needs. "Aboriginal communities" are those commu- nities that, according to the 1996 census, had a self-identified population of 20 percent or more of anyone of the following groups: North American Indian, Metis or Inuit; and/or that were designated by Statistics Canada as an Indian Reserve, Indian Settlement, Indian Government District, Tenes reservees or Village Cri. ELIGIBLE ApPLICANTS To apply, your community must be represented by a community-based, not-for-profit corpora- tion duly incorporated under federal or provin- cial legislation. The not-far-profit corporation will serve as the sponsoring organization for your community and will he the legal entity accountable for the successful implementation of your Smart Communities demonstration project. In addition, you must have the exclusive endorsement, in writing, of the municipality, regional municipality, or group of geograph- ically closely linked municipalities that your not-for-profit corporation represents. Proposals from Aboriginal communities must have the exclusive endorsement of the appropriate regional bodies with jurisdiction as recommended by Aboriginal Business Canada. SMART COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GUIDE , ~ . Industry Canada News Re ease MINISTER MANLEY ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE SMART COMMUNITIES COMPETITION * HALIFAX, June 5, 1999 -- John Manley, Minister oflndustry, today announced the national call for letters of intent to become one of 12 demonstrationprojects as part of the federal goverrunent's Smart Communities Program. "Nurturing ~ world-class Smart Community demonstration project in each province. one in the North and one in an Aboriginal community is an important step for all of Canada to thrive in the global, knowledge-based economy," said Minister Manley to community leaders at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Halifax. "As each world class demonstration project shares best practices and lessons learned, Canada moves closer to a seamless network of homes and businesses where the optimum use ot:lnformation and communication technologies is a part of everyday life, as natural and easy as turning on a radio." In Smart Communities, information and communication technologies are used in innovative ways to benefit citizens economically and socially, for example, to achieve better health care delivery, better education and training and stronger business growth. Demonstration projects can expect to create jobs and growth in their communities and improve quality oflife. The selected communities, which must match up to $5 million in federal funds, will become experts in the integration of information and communication technologies into communities, organizations and families. By sharing their experiences, they will help ensure that all Canadian communities have access to the resources they need to develop and implement their own Smart Community strategy. Interested parties should submit letters of intent before August 3, 1999, outlining their strategy for becoming a Smart Corrununity. Details on the competition, such as selection criteria and guidelines for preparing a letter of intent, can be found in the Smart Communities program guide. The 12 selected communities will be recommended by an arm's length national committee comprised of members who have a thorough understanding of the benefits that information and communication technologies can offer communities. ~ ...... Government ...,.. of Canada Gcuvemement du Canada Canada