The Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Saturday, August 30, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government has approved 56 projects pitched by civil servants meant to deliver cost savings and modernize operations within the province.
Among the approved projects is a web-based portal to communicate with employment and income assistance clients, meant to help them enter the workforce sooner. Current communication relies on in-person interactions and regular mail, which can delay jobs training and employment opportunities.
Transformation capital funding of $21.2 million will generate an estimated net savings of $190.9 million over 10 years.
The province will also purchase two drones to conduct aerial surveys of land that is being reforested, eliminating costs and risks associated with accessing remote areas through traditional survey methods such as helicopters.
More government boardrooms will also be equipped with video conferencing capabilities, meant to modernize communications and decrease travel costs of face-to-face meetings.
The projects come after the province asked civil servants to come forward in May with ideas on how to improve and modernize government through the new Transformation Capital Fund.
“We’ve had an impressive response from the entire organization and are delighted to unleash the creativity within our public service,” said Premier Brian Pallister.
“Many great new ideas emerged from the grassroots level and front line of our public service.”
Pallister says the return on investment will be 899 percent.
The $50 million fund will remain open to deliver on other promising ideas brought forward by public service employees that need more time to develop.
