Unanimous approval around the council horseshoe to launch a City of Saint John open data pilot program this year and accept the draft open data policy.
Commissioner of Strategic Services Neil Jacobsen telling council that open data, which is basically data that’s available for anyone to use, will be one more tool the city has to promote an open and transparent municipal government.
He says the way things are moving in all likelihood open data will become a regulatory requirement for the public sector and municipalities in Canada and around the world.
Jacobsen says the pilot project provides the opportunity to test the open data waters, saying, they want to walk before they run. Staff will come back to council early next year with a report on the pilot project which will look at the costs and benefits of having a permanent open data program.
During a meeting in October of 2013 council resolved to ask all City departments, agencies, boards and commissions for their two cents to help with the drafting of an open data policy.
