Canadian Government Executive - Volume 24 - Issue 02

March/April 2018 // Canadian Government Executive / 39 SMART CITIES hnology al Equity In 2017, Halifax joined with the United Way to lead the Poverty Solutions Strategy. The Advisory Committee, which is co-chaired by Mayor Mike Savage and United Way Halifax President & CEO Sara Napier, includes representation from the Province of Nova Scotia, as well as a wide range of community organizations. It is intended that the Poverty Solutions Strategy will improve the alignment between municipal, provincial and community initia- tives and programs to address poverty, and optimize the impact of individual investments. Appropriate technology to support and amplify this expanded activity on social and community issues will be vital to creating the healthy, liveable, and equitable place that these strategies en- vision. As the strategies move from planning to implementation, municipal officials are consulting with the strategic partners to consider how existing technology, and planned technology invest- ment, can further facilitate and expedite the desired outcomes. Halifax is building on a strong base of ‘smart’ projects that have been implemented or are underway within the municipality as Halifax moves to become a Smart City. The focus on infrastruc- ture, services, citizen engagement, evidence-based decision mak- ing, and transportation already supports the goals of the social and community improvement strategies in many ways. Conversion to LED street lighting includes a central manage- ment system and communication network to allow the lights to be remotely monitored and controlled. In addition to operational sav- ings, this project offers opportunities for improved public safety. An enterprise Recreation Management software will improve citizens’ access to recreation programs and future opportunity to expand across all facilities throughout the municipality. Public Wi-Fi in key downtown areas of Halifax and Dartmouth supports wider access to internet services for citizens and tourists, with plans for further expansion over time. It will also support the development of online services for people who currently have no or limited internet access. Halifax was one of the first municipalities to adopt an Open Data program in 2014. The Open Data initiative enables the re- lease of a wide range of data for public access and use. A total of 45 data sets, including civic addresses and building permits, have been released and are being used by citizens. A regular cycle has been established for the release of new data sets. This initiative encourages greater citizen awareness and more active engage- ment in municipal governance. Halifax Transit is adopting a wide range of technology to im- prove the convenience and reliability of the service, making it a high value option for all citizens. Improvements such as bus stop announcements have already improved the service for visually impaired transit users. Traffic signal and traffic management systems to manage con- gestion and allow emergency vehicle pre-emption will effective- ly reduce greenhouse gases and improve public safety by allow- ing first responders rapid movement through key intersections. For Halifax, the Federal Government’s announcement last year of a Smart City Challenge Fund was welcome news. The Fund of- fers $300 million over 11 years to improve the quality of life for ur- ban residents through better city planning and implementation of clean and digitally connected technology. Support from the fund would expedite municipal technology investments to advance the social objectives identified in the Poverty Solutions Strategy, the Public Safety Strategy, and the Integrated Mobility Plan. Council has approved a focus on poverty reduction, and mu- nicipal staff are working with their social policy partners, both internal and external, to identify specific issues that lend them- selves to a smart technology solution. While Halifax is relatively prosperous, poverty is a persistent issue in some parts of the mu- nicipality, and United Way Halifax analysis suggests that one in eight residents struggle to meet their basic needs. Investment in technology, supporting collaborative programs and policy can make a powerful difference. In fact, it will trans- form the lives of some citizens, and allow the entire community to share the dynamic spirit and creative change.