Croatians to Study Nova Scotia's Use of Internet

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Croatians to Study Nova Scotia's Use of Internet

Representatives from Croatia arrive in Halifax today to study how Nova Scotia is using Internet-based technology to better serve its citizens.

Of special interest to the delegation is how the provincial government is modernizing its property and business registry systems.

The six-member fact-finding team will meet with officials from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and the technology experts Unisys until Saturday.

"When the world comes knocking at our door, you know we're doing things right," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "Our province is fast becoming recognized as a centre of excellence for innovative government around the globe."

For two days, Ranko Marijan, Deputy Minister of Justice and Nevenka Rogan-Skrapec, Informatics Division, Ministry of Justice; Damir Pahic, State Geodetic Administration; Sasa Kiralj and Renata Santek, Zagreb Municipal Court; and Mladen Coric, Legal Department, Zagreb Bank, will explore innovations introduced or under development at Service Nova Scotia. These include the proposed overhaul of the province's land registry system -- the first significant reform in 250 years -- and the online property registry database. The latter program has 1,500 subscribers and generates 800,000 hits per month.

The Croatian team will also see how business registries and licensing processes are being streamlined and made ready for online access.

On Saturday morning, Unisys will host the group for a working breakfast to discuss the technology that is enabling these developments.

The tour was organized by Booz-Allen & Hamilton, an American management and technology consulting firm that specializes in e- business and e-government.

Mr. MacIsaac said international interest in how the province is changing its business practices is becoming more and more common.

"The Nova Scotia government has hosted delegations from almost every continent, looking at everything from our environmental programs to our corrections system and our restorative justice initiatives."

Last year, more than 75 foreign delegations turned to the Nova Scotia government for help in making their own governments more efficient, more effective and more responsive to the needs of their citizens.