Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by MINTAKA.LCS.MIT.EDU id aa02128; 19 May 94 20:02 EDT Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA26744; Thu, 19 May 94 15:38:42 CDT Return-Path: Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA26735; Thu, 19 May 94 15:38:40 CDT Date: Thu, 19 May 94 15:38:40 CDT From: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) Message-Id: <9405192038.AA26735@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom Subject: Ontario Computing Strategy Too large for a regular issue of the Digest, submitted here FYI. PAT Newsgroups: can.general,can.infohighway,comp.dcom.telecom From: mccallj@gov.on.ca (Joan McCalla) Subject: Ontario Computing Strategy Announcement Message-Id: <1994May17.151225.5768@govonca.gov.on.ca> Organization: Government of Ontario Date: Tue, 17 May 1994 15:12:25 GMT May 17, 1994 Lankin Announces $10.6 million support for Ontario's Computing Sector TORONTO -- Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Frances Lankin today confirmed the Province's support for Ontario's computing sector by committing $10.6 million for initiatives that will ensure future prosperity for this key sector of the economy. These initiatives are part of a strategy that is estimated to create 25,000 new jobs within five years. "Information technology is revolutionizing the way we live and the way we do business - that's why we need a plan to help this sector grow, create jobs and further the economic well-being of our province," said Ms. Lankin. This funding from the Sector Partnership Fund will support two key initiatives recommended by the Advisory Committee on the Computing Sector in its report called "Agenda for Action": Establishing an Ontario computing sector resource facility to provide business and technical support to small and medium firms in the computing sector. The Ontario Government will provide up to $9.5 million to the facility over five years. Creating an Electronic Commerce Institute of Ontario to encourage businesses to improve productivity and efficiency by using electronic information systems for business transactions and inventory. The province will provide up to $1.1 million for the start-up of this institute. In addition, the Minister announced that the Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure, which was established last year to advise the government on the implementation of the provincial telecommunications strategy, will expand its mandate to include the computing sector. This new responsibility will link these two vital elements of the information technology sector. Minister Lankin also indicated that the Ontario government is looking to improve the delivery of public services and foster the development of new technologies by making greater use of information technology. "The strategy sets out a clearly defined role for this government in promoting Ontario's computing sector," said Ms. Lankin. "We will also develop an information technology education and training strategy. Its goal will be to address the need to ensure the skills of the future workforce and increase public awareness of information technology and its applications." The computing sector strategy, created by a team consisting of industry, worker and government representatives, also outlines specific directions necessary for sector success: stimulating growth in the industry's small and medium-sized firms; promoting the "enabling effect" of information technology to help other sectors to boost their competitiveness; addressing the skills gap of the sector workforce; "Ontario's computing industry is an important part of our economy, providing high-wage and high value-added employment to thousands of Ontarians. It also has a spin-off effect, assisting other industries to improve their productivity and competitiveness," said Jim Hayward, Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Computing Sector. "This report addressed the need to combine our knowledge, resources and expertise to tackle problems and develop solutions in partnership. I am very pleased to see the signs of industry and government partnership. We now move to action." "It was a distinct pleasure working on a joint government-industry initiative," said Stephen Ralphs, Ontario Director of the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS). "The knowledge workers in the computing industry represented by CIPS will continue to play a full and active role in implementing this strategy." The Sector Partnership Fund is a $150 million, six-year fund designed to encourage collaborative initiatives among business, labour and other interested parties within a sector to help them achieve greater competitive advantage and boost economic development in the Province. Currently, the Ontario government is working with more than twenty sectors, including tourism, aerospace and autoparts, to develop and implement strategies. -30- Media contacts: Lucy Rybka-Becker John Cooper Minister's Office Marketing & Public (416) 325-6909 Affairs (416) 325-6694 For more information, use Internet address: mccallj@gov.on.ca. COMPUTING SECTOR FRAMEWORK UNDER SECTOR PARTNERSHIP FUND Several initiatives recommended in the ~Agenda for Action~ have been approved for funding under the Sector Partnership Fund (SPF). The SPF is a six-year funding program established to support the implementation of Ontario~s Industrial Policy Framework. It encourages business, labour, academia, associations and other stakeholders to closely examine an economic sector in Ontario, develop a plan for growth of the sector, and subsequently establish approaches that will encourage this growth. Intent of the Sector Partnership Fund Announced in the Ontario Budget in the spring of 1992, the SPF is designed to strengthen sectors or ~clusters~ of the province~s economy by shifting sectors to higher value-added. The intention is to encourage the establishment of economic development infrastructure that will be used by all firms within a given sector to increase their competitiveness. A total of $150 million is earmarked for the fund, portions of which will be awarded to approved initiatives from various sectors of the economy. Focus on Competitive Fundamentals The SPF~s focus is to strengthen various competitive fundamentals of firms within sectors. These include: continuous innovation; raising skill levels; increasing technological capabilities; developing linkages and networks; building international capabilities; establishing companies~ home-based activities in Ontario. The Computing Sector Strategy takes into account all of these fundamentals and provides a sound action plan for strengthening them. In particular, the initiatives to establish a Computer Sector Resource Facility and an Electronic Commerce Institute provide specific action plans for strengthening all of these fundamental areas of competitiveness. Details are provided in the accompanying documents. COMPUTING SECTOR STRATEGY FOR ONTARIO Ontario Computing Sector Development Strategy The computing sector is a key component of the Information Infrastructure, which has the potential to reshape and revitalize our economy. The industry, users, workers, government and other stakeholders in Ontario recognize the need to nurture this rapidly emerging, high-growth sector. The strategy for accomplishing this identifies practical action plans to accelerate sector growth. It was developed and will be implemented through the combined efforts of government and computing-sector stakeholders. How the Strategy was prepared: In late 1992 the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology requested that the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA) and the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) develop an Advisory Committee, through which ways would be identified to grow Ontario~s computing sector. These and other associations were mandated to (a) formulate a comprehensive, concise strategy for the growth of the province~s computing sector, and (b) identify initiatives which, when implemented, would support and accelerate this growth. During 1993, over 120 representatives of business, labour, academia, associations and organizations in the sector devoted approximately 10,000 hours to developing its report entitled ~Agenda for Action~. This was submitted to Ontario~s Minister of Economic Development and Trade Frances Lankin, on December 15, 1993. After a period of review and analysis, Ontario is responding positively to the findings and recommendations of that report. The Vision of the Computing Sector The computing sector, along with the telecommunications and information- content sectors, is one of the three pillars supporting the ~new information economy~. This sector~s strategy supports the vision which was adopted with Ontario~s Telecommunications Strategy in February 1993: Through Information Technology, Ontario and Canada will be the best place in the world to live, work, learn and do business. The computing sector has a key role in the economic prosperity and quality of life in Ontario through its contribution of employment, trade and the enabling effect of computing products and services. Key Objectives in Developing Ontario~s Computing Sector The Computing Sector Strategy focusses on four areas: The first is to promote self-sustaining growth of market share, revenues and employment among small and medium-sized firms; the second is to enhance the ~enabling effect~ of technology by improving linkages among computing, telecommunications and other sectors of the economy; the third is to foster the new- skills workforce that will be needed to underpin those objectives; and the fourth is to retain and attract new investment. First Objective: Ontario~s computing sector comprises over 6,000 companies, 93 per cent of which are innovative, entrepreneurial firms employing 10 or fewer people. Many of these firms are in high-growth areas such as software and services, areas expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 17 per cent over the next five years. Recognizing the potential economic benefits that can be realized by stimulating the growth of this sector, the strategy seeks to assist in improving the core competencies of small and medium-sized firms, helping them through start-up and growth phases, encouraging alliances and partnerships, and enabling them to export their products and expertise globally. Ontario~s continued global market share is not assured, and it is the primary objective of this strategy not only to maintain global market share but to expand it. Second Objective: The Advisory Committee concluded that ~Ontario is in the throes of economic change~; it is in transition from an industrial to a knowledge- based society. The computing sector will play an important role in this transition, not only because of its own vitality but also because of the enabling effect of its products and services. Its potential to assure the vitality of mature industries and stimulate new enterprises through Electronic Commerce is reflected in this enabling effect. By improving infrastructure linkages and increasing demand for the computer sector~s products and services, other sectors including the public sector will benefit as well by improving their productivity and competitiveness. Third Objective: The province sees an urgent need for an appropriately educated and skilled workforce within the computing sector and more broadly across Ontario for the ~new economy~. This requires the ability to identify any existing or potential gaps in supply and demand for such skills, so that education and training providers can quickly act to address the situation. Other initiatives in improving the skills base of the workforce include fostering an information technology learning culture through programs that will stimulate an interest in science and technology in our youth, and support of 'learnware', a subsector of the computer industry that produces educational and training software. Fourth Objective: Together, achieving these objectives will position the province globally to produce and supply the broadest possible range of state-of-the-art information technologies. By pursuing the preceding objectives, Ontario will: enhance its status as a global supplier of information technology; foster the growth of existing information-technology firms; increase the number of firms that conduct research and develop, produce and supply goods and services for the domestic market and for export through Ontario-based activity. The Action Plan Responding positively to the Advisory Committee~s report, the strategy for the computing sector calls for the following: Adopting the strategic directions put forward by the Advisory Committee in its 'Agenda for Action'. Implementing two primary initiatives, including the establishment of a computing sector resource facility and an Electronic Commerce Institute. Following through with additional recommendations related to the Advisory Committee's report in areas such as education and training, technology awareness, and government procurement. Re-mandating the Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure to include computing sector development priorities. Benefits of the Primary Initiatives The government believes that substantial beneficial impact can be made on the sector by supporting the establishment of a computing sector resource facility and an Electronic Commerce Institute for the province. These initiatives were primary recommendations of the 'Agenda for Action'. Computing Sector Resource Facility: This 'virtual' organization with locations throughout the province will provide a variety of support functions for small and medium-sized firms that would benefit from management and marketing support. Among the services provided will be management training, advisory services, provision of up-to-date product and market information, marketing expertise, facilitation (eg. of strategic alliances), and assistance in investment and export readiness. The resource facility will assist the sector in three other ways: by helping to establish international beachheads, enabling member companies of the resource facility to obtain professional marketing services in certain foreign markets; by supporting international quality standards, which will encourage the development of more competitive products and services by Ontario companies; and by improving linkages between the sector and educational institutions. Electronic Commerce Institute of Ontario: Electronic Commerce (EC) is the creation, movement, use and display of digital (electronic) information by and between enterprises and people. It is a key enabling technology because it helps businesses and institutions benefit from tremendous savings in costs, time, responsiveness, service and operations. The EC Institute of Ontario will increase the capabilities of Ontario computing and telecommunications firms to provide EC products and services. It will also foster the use of electronic commerce in both the public and private sectors in Ontario, including electronic data interchange (EDI), the standardized movement of digital information between trading partners. The advantages of EDI include enhanced efficiency, keeping existing clients and adding new ones in a marketplace where the use of EDI is becoming increasingly predominant and mandatory, access to future government contracts where bids will be taken electronically, and the ability to interact with government electronically. The province wishes to form a partnership with the federal government and industry to establish the Electronic Commerce Institute, with federal participation levels equivalent to those of other regions. The Government's role under the Computing Sector Strategy The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade will work with other ministries in order to make progress in the areas of raising public awareness, devising an education and training strategy for information technology industries, enhancing the delivery of health care in the province through information technologies, ensuring that supplier development is an integral part of government procurement and assuring that the sector~s small firms have adequate access to capital. How the strategy will be funded The Computing Sector Strategy will be financed through the Sector Partnership Fund (SPF), which supports co-operative initiatives that help sectors develop their potential at home and internationally. The sector initiatives satisfy the two main objectives of the SPF: they move the sector to the production of higher value-added products, services and processes, and they improve the sector~s competitiveness, leading to high quality and secure jobs. Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure The Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure, formed in 1993 as a key element of Ontario~s Telecommunications Strategy, is being re-mandated to include the computing sector in addition to its other activities. The Council, an advisory body to the Government, has several functions. It raises public awareness; brings partners together; advises the Government on industry trends; reviews and advises on applications and priorities under the Ontario Network Infrastructure Program (ONIP) and the Sector Partnership Fund; assesses progress under the provincial computing and telecommunications strategies and recommends further actions if necessary. It champions the campaign for an Ontario information infrastructure. PROFILE OF THE ONTARIO COMPUTING SECTOR The Ontario computing sector is characterized by growth, innovation, variety and opportunity. Composed of over 6,000 firms providing a wide variety of computer-related hardware, software and services, the sector employs about 43,700 people, and in 1992 posted revenues of over $6.6 billion, an increase of over nine per cent from the previous year, making it a major contributor to provincial wealth. Ontario's Computing Sector: The computing sector comprises firms which produce and provide the following computer hardware, software and computer-related services: Computer hardware includes electronic data processing equipment, primarily computers and input, output and electronic storage devices. Computer software products include packaged software such as operating systems software, user tools (systems development and maintenance packages) and applications (ready-to-use packages). Computer services include computer rental, leasing, maintenance, repair and time-sharing, and such professional services as programming, and information technology planning and systems work. The Market for Computer Products and Services The worldwide market for information technology, including telecommunications, is currently $395 billion annually, and is expected to grow to $1 trillion by the year 2000. Ontario~s share of the global market is now two per cent. The province~s contribution of 58 per cent of the nation~s computing sector revenues helps to position Canada as the seventh largest supplier of computing products and services in the world (behind the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, U.K. and Italy). Domestically, the computing sector has a large and concentrated base of potential customers. Make-up of Computing Sector Firms The large majority of firms in the sector are small and entrepreneurial, with 93 per cent having ten or fewer employees. Ontario firms are known for the innovativeness and high quality of their computing products and services, and typically have strong growth potential which can be enhanced through management and marketing expertise, export and domestic market information and assistance in investment readiness. Many of these dynamic, fast-moving firms are well-suited to succeeding in the ~new information economy~. On average, sector firms invest 10.4 per cent of sales revenues in research and development. Sector Employment Profile Directly accounting for about one per cent of the province's workforce, the sector provides high value-added and skill-intensive jobs. Between 1985 and 1991, employment growth in the software and services portion of the sector averaged 7.6 per cent annually, while total provincial employment grew at 2.4 per cent annually. A 1992 Employment and Immigration Canada report 'Software and National Competitiveness' found that software-related workers are more educated than those in other white-collar occupations; the report also pointed out a high degree of mobility among software-related workers. Ontario has a pool of workers who are well-educated and experienced in all areas required to build the computing sector. Infrastructure supporting the Computing Sector: Ontario has a well developed infrastructure capable of supporting and fostering growth in the computing sector. Two key components of that infrastructure are education and telecommunications. The province spends about $25 billion a year on education, part of which supports world-class universities which have earned excellent reputations in the field of information technology. Ontario also has a strong telecommunications infrastructure, with advancements being made continuously. Broad Base of Sector Associations and Collaboration Adding to the strength of the sector is a wide variety of associations. Over 30 different national and regional computing organizations operate in the province, including vertical-market and special-interest groups, professional associations and research institutes. Firms which are members of an association represent 90 per cent of sector employment, revenue and exports. By providing information through a variety of communications vehicles, and by facilitating seminars, conferences and other events, these associations collectively can communicate with virtually every sector firm in the province. Industry, workers, sector associations and other stakeholders have demonstrated their desire to collaborate with each other and to work with the Ontario government to develop the sector and to lead initiatives supporting its ongoing development. The sector also benefits from the Province~s growing multicultural population, whose contacts and affinities with countries of origin throughout the world provide domestic firms with a major strength in the pursuit of global trade. Computing Sector Opportunities With a practical strategy for building on the sector~s many inherent strengths, Ontario is well positioned to stimulate growth and prosperity in the sector itself and in other areas of the economy, through the enabling effect of information technology. Sector growth will bring the opportunity for new jobs and the enrichment of existing sector jobs, and will improve the economic prosperity of Ontario and Canada. The Computing Sector Resource Facility: Enabling Ontario~s information technology entrepreneurs. Ontario's computing sector is one of the most promising components of the economy. Its current business base of more than 6,000 firms is a substantial foundation upon which to build economic growth based on increased market share, revenue and employment. Ninety-three percent of the participants in this dynamic and highly fragmented sector are small firms with less than ten employees. Although participants tend to be entrepreneurial, innovative and highly responsive to market demands, these strengths have traditionally been offset by a lack of the management expertise necessary to move the organization from start-up mode to market-viability. In addition to their need for this expertise, the growth of many firms could be accelerated dramatically through the provision of: industry-specific sales and marketing skills access to financing market intelligence accurate, current product information export marketing expertise the ability to comply with international standards Through the creation of the Computing Sector Resource Facility, the Government of Ontario seeks to strengthen this important sector and enable its information technology entrepreneurs ~ thereby stimulating the province~s overall economy. Computing Sector Resource Facility The primary role of the computing sector resource facility will be to assist small to medium sized firms in developing competencies in management, marketing expertise and export readiness. Functions: Operating as a virtual organization with pay-for-service representatives and locations across the province, the computing sector resource facility will establish links with the sector~s many industry and professional associations and their members. This will provide participants with access to a rich, but inexpensive one-on- one 'human database' of skills and expertise. As a networking and information referral service, the resource facility will provide computing sector participants the information support, access to knowledgeable advisors and comprehensive training necessary for long-term business viability and growth. What~s more, by acting as a single referral point for participants in the sector, the likelihood of creating synergistic relationships and industry alliances for commercialization and product development is increased. In keeping with its objective of helping to foster trade and global readiness, the Facility also will act as the 'interface to the industry,' liaising between Ontario's computing sector participants and parties interested in dealing with them commercially. Representatives of the resource facility will support innovative activities and the provincial, national and international marketing efforts of the sector~s small and medium sized companies. The creation of beachheads in markets outside Canada, which will be used to identify commercial opportunities for Ontario's computer sector goods and services, will also bolster the sector's opportunities of competing globally. Overall Effects To the economy of Ontario, the effect of the computing sector resource facility will be to improve the business viability and global market competitiveness of companies in the sector. Expected results include self-sustaining growth of the industry, accompanied by the attendant increase in employment, exports and revenues. Ontario's Commitment The government has committed up to $9.5 million over five years to match industry~s support of this initiative. The level of Ontario~s commitment will depend on that of the private sector. In the first year, government funding will be of particular importance as investments in information technology tools and other capital intensive start-up costs are met. As infrastructure expenses diminish, concurrent to the rise in its revenues, that the facility will become self-sustaining and financially independent. By stimulating exports, job creation and additional investments in Ontario, the benefits of the resource facility will far outweigh the costs associated with the initiative. The province~s contract with the facility will specify mutually agreeable milestones to measure its progress, auditing procedures, and an approved operating plan. Revenue Generation The resource facility will raise revenues from fees for service, donations, event sponsorships, seminars and training and supplier-user matching services. Management There will be a Board of Directors, comprised of 15-20 representatives of various stakeholder groups; including the Ontario Government, industry, workers and others. A President will report to an Executive Committee comprised of three to five senior industry individuals, including the Chair of the Board. Electronic Commerce Leveraging Ontario~s Economic Competitiveness With the advent of inexpensive, reliable computer and telecommunications systems, today~s organizations have come to depend on quick, convenient access to electronic information. In this form, information is extremely valuable because it can accelerate the flow of business through and between organizations; thereby providing opportunities for greater productivity and competitiveness. In essence, this 'Electronic Commerce' (or EC) is the creation, use, movement and display of information in electronic form by and between enterprises and people. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) One important subset of Electronic Commerce, Electronic Data Interchange (or EDI) is used to communicate high volume business transactions between and among trading partners. EDI helps organizations develop synergistic relationships, respond quickly to commercial opportunities, improve productivity, reduce expenses, and provide improved job quality. In short, EDI~s enabling effect is to improve the competitiveness and effectiveness~both domestically and globally~ of the organizations that use it. 'Agenda for Action; A Strategy for the Development of Ontario's Computing Sector' identifies Electronic Commerce in general, and Electronic Data Interchange specifically, as levers which will stimulate development in both the private and public sectors. Adding Value EDI provides an environment in which just-in-time inventory management and electronic funds transfer (EFT) become possible. Complex interactions involving numerous steps and trading partners are reduced to one continuous electronic transaction. For example, goods are ordered, picked from inventory, shipped, tracked, received and paid for as part of one electronic 'exchange' among several partners: in this case, the supplier, buyer, shipper and bank, all of whom are networked together. Electronic data is all that remains to prove that transactions occurred~there is no need for manual forms. By facilitating the implementation and use of just-in-time management techniques and EFT tools, EDI will provide extensive residual benefits 'particularly increased responsiveness and profitability' to manufacturing enterprises of all sizes. Suppliers of information technology products and services especially will enjoy increased demand when organizations implement EC and EDI because these products form the backbone or ~infrastructure~ that makes possible the transmission of electronic data. Therefore, widespread acceptance and implementation of electronic commerce will result in immediate growth in both the telecommunications sector and the computing products and services sector. Furthermore, as EC users strive for greater competitive advantages through reduced operating costs, greater accuracy in transactions and improved information availability for operating and customer service improvements, they will again turn to suppliers in the information technology sectors for additional value-added services. This will result in further development and growth of these sectors and provide constant demand for Ontario~s knowledge workers. Promoting EC and EDI As stated, Ontario is committed to the promotion of electronic commerce as a lever to bolster the economic prosperity and competitiveness of both the province and the country as a whole. Ontario understands the critical importance of retaining and creating new jobs, expanding export development opportunities and growing small businesses. The proliferation of electronic commerce will serve to further enhance and accelerate our ability to meet these challenges and to compete globally with timely, innovative products and services. In keeping with these objectives, the Government of Ontario wishes to work in partnership with the Electronic Data Interchange Council of Canada and the federal government to establish and operate the Electronic Commerce Institute of Ontario. Federal government funding consistent with federal support provided for similar institutes in other regions will be sought. The Electronic Commerce Institute (ECI) of Ontario The ECI facility will promote and support the use of information technology as a means of providing higher value-added activity across Ontario~s economy. Its objectives will be to: increase the capabilities of Ontario~s computing and telecommunications firms in providing products and services that support electronic commerce and increase the use of electronic commerce, including electronic data interchange in Ontario. Functions: Specifically, the ECI will help Ontario firms and the broader public sector identify and use innovative, leading edge electronic commerce techniques and technologies. In particular, small and medium sized enterprises, not traditionally users of EDI, stand to benefit enormously from the activities of the Electronic Commerce Institute. In view of the fact that Ontario and its front-line commercial organizations have had to keep pace with and remain ahead of global competitors, the use of various aspects of electronic commerce has become very sophisticated in some areas of Ontario~s economy. As a result, many of the more than 800 Ontario firms that now use EDI, are at the global state-of-the-art in its use. Bridging the Learning Curve Therefore, small and medium firms that have not already optimized their businesses through the use of electronic commerce or EDI will have the opportunity to bridge the learning curve quickly and efficiently with the assistance of the Institute. Further, they will enjoy the benefits created by synergistic relationships with other ECI clients~from the uninitiated to the most sophisticated users of electronic commerce solutions. Another of the ECI~s primary functions will be to foster relationships between Ontario information technology sector firms and potential and growing users of electronic commerce. In other words, the ECI will introduce suppliers of information technology products and services that support electronic commerce to users, in both the private and public sectors, who wish to leverage its power to optimize their organizations. Through its related consultative activities, the Institute will also be ideally suited to identify and facilitate the development of unique solutions to electronic commerce-related problems~solutions which can subsequently be marketed by Ontario information technology firms~both within the province and around the world. Three Areas of Service The Institute will: provide specialized services to existing, new and potential Ontario-based suppliers of Information Technology products and services that support electronic commerce; develop activities which will bring these suppliers together with existing, new and potential Ontario-based users of EC to jointly overcome hurdles as they emerge; and provide information and educational materials that promote EC and which can be used to support decisions for its future implementation. Electronic commerce has a positive impact on Ontario~s workforce Electronic commerce tends to have a positive impact on workers whose organizations use it. Because repetitive administrative tasks are not particularly interesting to employees nor valuable to their companies when they underutilize the skills of a talented resource, the use of Electronic Commerce provides both parties with the opportunity for better deployment of valuable human assets. For example: time and resources associated with certain administrative duties can be redirected to other more job-enriching areas more resources can be directed at improving client service and other higher value-added activities skill levels and contributions of workers can be increased through on-going training and development and better utilization of human resources What's more, as organizations prosper as a result of better use of resources and the increased competitiveness afforded them by EC, career opportunities for skilled employees flourish~increasing job security, improving job content and accelerating career mobility. When applied in the public sector, the result is greater value-added in government to Ontario taxpayers and the economy as a whole, increased skill levels on the part of public employees and increased productivity and service through the provincial government and its agencies. The need for an Electronic Commerce Institute of Ontario The EDI Council of Canada, which is located in Etobicoke, is shifting its activities toward fostering global electronic commerce linkages for Canadian enterprises and overseeing the establishment and operation of regional EDI Institutes, including Ontario~s EC Institute. For Ontario to remain a trading province, it must remain on the leading edge of trading and commercial practices. The relationship between the Computing Sector Resource Facility and the EC Institute: The computing sector resource facility focuses on the development of Ontario~s 6,000 computing sector firms by focusing on supporting and escalating the competencies in management, marketing expertise and export readiness of these entrepreneurial firms. The Electronic Commerce Institute will focus on developing the supply of EC-related products and services by these firms and building the use (and therefore the domestic market) for these products and services. (A Computing STRATEGY for Ontario)