Posted by
aph809 on
Nov 08, 2006; 2:27pm
URL: http://civicaccess.416.s1.nabble.com/update-on-CivicAccess-stuff-i-ve-been-working-on-tp748p749.html
Hello,
I am a little confused by the description of this project.
At present, the federal hansard is available online. (It has
been, since about 1996.) So far as I know, all provincial/territorial
hansards are online too. There are also digitization projects
underway to make earlier, print versions available as well.
There are also digitization projects underway to convert
the various "scrapbook" debates (essentially clippings from
newspapers, before hansards were published).
So, is this proposed project "value added" on top of what exists?
To what organization or agency is the application being made?
(At the federal level, Heritage is the big player.) Would it be
fair to know the identity of the organization making the application?
I am sure this project does not duplicate existing work, but it
is hard to know given the description. There is so much work that
needs to be done, it would be a pity to waste time, effort, and resources
on a duplicate project.
Best regards,
Andrew Hubbertz
Quoting Michael Lenczner <
[hidden email]>:
> I've just helped a Montreal non-profit send in an application for a
> CivAcc project. They will find out early december if they received
> it. The project would be to bring a federal hansard project to the
> level of functionality of
http://www.TheyWorkForYou.org>
> I am trying to figure out with Cory (from HowdTheyVote) how not to
> either step on his toes or waste time+effort through parallel
> development. He has done great work by stepping up and attacking this
> problem and I don't want to disrespect that or simply duplicate it
> without adding anything. I think we're hopeful about figuring out the
> best way to work together.
>
> The reason I'm working with this local non-project to take on this
> project (federal hansard) instead of tackling another one is that I
> feel certain that the federal site is *the* killer CivicAccess project
> to get things rolling. If it is a convincing, resounding success then
> we can use to get other things started. First the Federal one, then
> tackling one-by-one the provincial and territorial hansards. Some of
> them are easier than others (in terms of the structure of the data)
> but after 3-5 of them are done, we should be able to use PR/media
> campaign to get the rest of the provinces to fall in line.
>
> (The other reason that I'm focusing on the federal hansards is that
> all of the Canadian Community Wireless Networking groups could display
> per-MP rss feeds on their portal pages to their users (Wireless
> Toronto 4,500 users, ISF 26,000 users, Quebec Sans Fil and
> Ottawa/Gatineau Wifi). So we really need that functionality.)
>
> I know that there has been few tangible results from CivicAccess so
> far. It's been a good online resource/community, but I know that many
> of us want it to much more. An incubator, network, and cheerleader
> for projects that empower citizens through better access to public
> info. I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how to
> accomplish that over the last few months and I will continue to work
> on it. I should be sending in 2 grant applications for CA projects in
> the next 2 months.
>
> If there are any coders / web people that want to build CA projects
> but need help or $$, feel free to let me know. I definitely have time
> to help people find resources. I don't have years of experience at
> developing these kinds of projects, but I'll help out as much as I
> can.
>
> mike
>
> _______________________________________________
> CivicAccess-discuss mailing list
>
[hidden email]
>
http://civicaccess.ca/mailman/listinfo/civicaccess-discuss_civicaccess.ca>
Andrew Hubbertz
Librarian Emeritus
University of Saskatchewan Library
613 692 2709
[hidden email]