1. w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a Prof.Sandford Borins University of Toronto Digital State Revisited Bruce Doern conference Ottawa, November 7, 2008

2. w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a The essential question Is IT transforming govt and politics? Digital State at the Leading Edge: evidence from 2000 to early 2006 from the feds, Ontario, US, UK Yes: availability and use of information Maybe: service delivery and organizational structure Unlikely: major cost-savings (see handout)

3. w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a Three more years evidence From early 2006 to late 2008, including Ontario, federal, US election campaigns Methodology -- blogging => interaction with readers -- presentations based on DSLE -- reading (NYTimes, Globe and Mail to show impact on main stream media)

4. w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a Online politics: from lagging to leading Cut-throat competition drives tech-based innovation Key role of IT-savvy young politicos The Obama phenomenon Message: change, eloquently delivered Medium: online organizing Tickets for town halls => email list Million supporters at mybarackobama.com Repeated small donations Empowered community organizing: caucusing, calling, canvassing

5. Federal and Ontario campaigns: boys in bubbles? Bloggers vet local candidates YouTube showing gaffes (John Tory, Stephane Dion, Garth Turner) Active partisan bloggers Citizen mobilization –Culture en peril (900K views) –Ontario referendum, faith-based schools –Let Elizabeth May debate! –Facilitating strategic voting w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a

6. Politicizing governments online presence IT-savvy campaigners in power (Flanagans 9 th commandment: its the technology, stupid) Space allocation on the portal (Canadas New Government, Gordon Brown remake of number10.gov.uk) eye candy/advocacy websites for Government priorities (healthy life- style, environment, equalization)

7. w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a IT-based service delivery Dramatic increase in use of online channel Telephone most popular but least satisfying => needs fixing Service Canada the key player, but rarely promoted E-pass available but not publicized Service delivery wasnt a key priority in a minority government Service Canada relationship to HRSDC? Political reluctance to invest in big systems

8. Looking forward in the Digital State What happens to Mybarackobama.com in an Obama Administration? Liberal leadership campaign: looking for a web-savvy Gen-X leader who will inspire and mobilize young Liberals online Online fund-raising for the next election Citizen mobilization: whats the next issue? Service delivery improvement as recession- fighting strategy? w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a

9. Looking forward to research about the Digital State Young adults leading edge users of latest technologies (twitter, SMS, Facebook, v-blogs, new search engines, etc.) An opportunity for the next generation of researchers w w w. d i g i t a l s t a t e. c a