We are pleased to highlight the publication of the Government of Canada’s Open Data Inventory for the very first time. Knowing the full range of information the Government of Canada is creating or collecting is the first step in making data and information more open. An important part of our open government work is to create inventories of datasets and information, to assess them and, where possible, plan for their release. The Directive on Open Government requires the Government of Canada to publish these inventories whenever possible. With the creation of these inventories, over 1,500 new datasets have been identified as eligible for release. We will also be publishing open information inventories as part of our Open Government directive requirements coming up in 2018-2019.
In addition to having the ability to search through the inventories on open.canada.ca, you will also have the option to vote on datasets to help prioritize them for release. Prioritizing datasets helps us to fast track the more popular ones for release based on voting.
Publishing the inventories and providing a way to vote on them accomplishes two important things:
- This allows us to develop a more complete picture of the data holdings of the Government of Canada; and
- We start talking to you - Canadians - on which datasets are most useful to you.
This second step brings us closer to a more regular dialogue with you on how and when to release information on the open government portal. It will also help us measure how we are making progress toward greater openness and transparency. So have a look, vote for datasets that you’d like to see on the open government portal, drop us a line at open-ouvert@tbs-sct.gc.ca to let us know what you think, or follow us on Twitter at @opengovcan.
Alannah Hilt, Open Government team member
