Posted by
Michael Lenczner on
Nov 08, 2006; 5:51pm
URL: http://civicaccess.416.s1.nabble.com/update-on-CivicAccess-stuff-i-ve-been-working-on-tp748p752.html
Thanks Robin for responding.
Responses inline:
On 11/8/06,
[hidden email] <
[hidden email]> wrote:
> 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?
>
Robin sent the url to describe value add.
> 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 don't really want to reveal the identity of the organization until
they find out if they got it. They might not mind, but I just don't
really want to get into it. The only reason that I'm talking about it
before they found out is that I wanted everyone here to be aware that
I was working in this direction.
> 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.
>
Definitely. We'll definitely do our best to avoid working harder than
we have to. ;-)
> 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]
>
>
>