Transcript
Transcript: Government of Canada Data Conference 2023: The Power of Data in Service Canada's Ontario Region
Hello, my name is Julie Garneau-Ferris and I am the Director General of the Strategic Services Branch at Service Canada, Ontario Region. I'm excited to share how important data is within Ontario Region and how we use it in a strategic way. Data is at the core of ESDC and Service Canada, Ontario Region's key priorities and activities. It provides an evidence-based foundation for all decision-making in order to deliver Service Excellence to Canadians. Using data and business intelligence in collaboration with our National colleagues, as well as advancements in labour market and socio-economic tools supports an evidence-based approach to understanding and serving our diverse client base.
Here are some great examples of how we use external data within our region.The Labour Market and Socio-economic Directorate, also known as LMSID, uses sophisticated tools and analysis to ensure informed decision-making. The Ontario Region Seniors Hardship Index provides an analysis of seniors' populations across the province; identifying the areas where this vulnerable client segment experiences the most hardship with issues like low-income, affordability and housing. The Index facilitates sound decision-making on program funding, ensuring clients and communities receive the services they need the most.
The Reaching All Canadians mapping analysis visualises the distribution of key client segments across the City of Toronto, in conjunction with select service delivery providers like the United Way of Greater Toronto. Mapping both of these variables improves targeted outreach to support at-risk populations. Other variables mapped for this analysis include: Workers, Seniors, Indigenous Peoples, newcomers, people who did not complete high school and low-income households. Products like the Ontario Region Seniors Hardship Index and the Reaching All Canadians mapping analysis drive innovation, inform targeted outreach and wraparound services to communities and partners, and help facilitate partnerships with provinces and municipalities. All of this is possible - thanks to data! It's clear that the regional LMSID uses external data about populations in Ontario in a powerful way. But it doesn't stop there - Service Canada, Ontario Region leverages internal data when making business decisions as well.
The Region's Planning, Accountability and Strategic Analysis directorate, better known as PASA, uses data to support evidenced-based decisions by leveraging Business Line information. Data gathered from all of the Business Lines provides an integrated view of Ontario Region's service delivery supporting Canadians. PASA builds on Business Line reporting efficiencies and makes linkages to existing data, allowing for the reporting of targeted metrics in a timely manner. This team uses data visualization techniques, such as the creation of dashboards to present data in a way that is visually appealing and helps decision-makers see trends; ultimately strengthening data-driven reporting within the Region.
From LMSID to PASA, Service Canada, Ontario Region leverages data to deliver Service Excellence to Canadians. I am happy to say that the future of data usage within the Region is very bright. We have a continued commitment to improving data usage, and maintaining relationships with partners and stakeholders is necessary to achieve this goal. We are continuously working to improve and expand available data sources, as well as the methods we use to analyse data. We are exploring new areas of automation, advanced programs for analytics and new avenues for collaboration to enhance data work within the Region. At Service Canada, Ontario Region, we are doing our part to make the ESDC Data Strategy a reality – data is empowering our employees and driving the work that we do, to the benefit of Canadians near and far.
