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By Sara
Garnier
Staff reporter
They're difficult to miss, high-tech computer screens fastened to
the desks in front of each chair.
Charlottetown city councillors can, with a touch, indicate if they
want to speak or how they want to vote.
It's like something out of the science fiction TV program Star Trek.
Make that Star Trek: The Next Generation.
And it's expensive, $183,000. The equipment cost $152,000. The installation
and training cost another $31,000.
The mayor loves the state-of-the-art system installed earlier this
spring. Councillor Bruce Garrity hates it.
The money could be put towards more important things says Garrity.
For almost two months Charlottetown council has been using new equipment
including touch screens, viewing screens, voice recorders, and a
Smartboard to conduct city council business.
Garrity said he voted against buying the equipment because he felt
there are other things the city needs more. And he doesn't think
it's needed.
žI think the older, less modern system is acceptable.˛
Even with the system in place the councillors are still receiving
paper copies of the resolutions and reports, says Garrity.
But mayor George MacDonald says the equipment allows the public
greater access to council. There will be some growing pains,˛ said
MacDonald, but the equipment is top of the line.
žIf it's not today's technology or tomorrow's, we don't want it.˛
Charlottetown's move to high-tech is part of a trend, says John
Crossley, a professor of political science at the University of
Prince Edward Island. Generally speaking, governments are using
new technology to improve their administrative process.
ž(The city's plan) sounds like an efficient way to allow the government
to potential enhance interaction with the people.˛
In fact, Crossley said, the government may one day move to a system
where much if not all the government's work and communicating will
be done throught computers.
The money for Charlottetown's project it is coming partly from the
federal government. The Department of Industry is giving $4.5 million
over the next three years to Charlottetown and its partners: Cornwall
and Stratford, the Development Corporation, Island Telecom Inc.,
Technology PEI, the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce,
Confederation Centre, the University of Prince Edward Island and
Holland College. This is part of a project called Smart Communities.
Charlottetown is the 12th city to be approved for the program.
The federal government Web site, http://smartcommunities.ic.gc.ca,
defines a Smart Community as ža community with a vision of the future
that involves the use of information and communication technologies
in new and innovative ways to empower its residents, institutions
and regions as a whole.
As such, they make the most of the opportunities that new technologies
afford - better health care delivery education and training and
new business opportunities.˛
Charlottetown is not the first to try to upgrade their technology.
The New Brunswick provincial government has been broadcasting special
events throught the Internet since 1997. That year they broadcast
the meeting of the premiers in St. Andrews.
In early 2002 they broadcast the province's State of the Province
address and over 1,000 people viewed it on the web cam.
Now the Internet is being used to broadcast the spring sessions
of the Legislative Assembly on a experimental basis, said Bonnie
Buckingham from Communications N.B.The web broadcasts are žanother
way to bring democracy to the public,˛ she said.However the system
they are using is not costing a lot of money because they are using
technology the province
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Charlottetown
mayor George MacDonald sts in front of a new touch screen computers.
The new computers are being used at city council meetings. (Garnier
photo)
Charlottetown
city hall may be old, but the councillors have been using the newest
in technology. (Garnier photo)
already has.
No additional equipment had to be bought. At the end of the current
session the government will look at whether or not they will keep
the broadcasts up and invest in new technology.
In Charlottetown, the system involves all 10 councillors and the
mayor having new touchscreens at their desks.
The councillors can even use it to see the resolutions being proposed.
When councillors want to speak, they push one of the three buttons
on their screens. Their name shows up indicating they have requested
to speak. MacDonald gives them permission to speak. When the time
comes to vote, the councillors press another button.
On March 4 when the screens were used there were a few problems
with councillors knowing when to push the button to vote and speak.
At the second council meeting April 8, the council still had a few
problems. When the councillors voted on the Victoria Park site for
a new skate park, councillor George Trainor voted against the resolution.
The screen it showed he had voted to accept it, so council noted
verbally he was not supporting the resolution.
The new system does not stop with the screens on the councillors'
desks. The resolutions and the results of votes are displayed on
two large screens which face the public gallery.
There is also a projection screen in the committee room in case
there are too many people to fit in the public gallery.
In addition, the system has a voice recorder to help in the transcription
procedure. It provides an exact reproduction of what was said by
everyone during the meeting, said MacDonald. Smartboards are also
being used.
A smartboard is a white board mounted on the wall operated using
an electronic mouse. By using markers, presenters can project the
words they are writing. The project also allows the public to pay
bills such as parking tickets from home on the Internet.
And it will enable council to put their meetings on the Web site
through a web cam.
MacDonald said the equipment is not difficult to use and the staff
at city hall is working to learn how to use it.
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