The document discusses open government and transparency. It notes that transparency is a core principle that supports accountability and participation, and is key to building trust. However, there is a conundrum between the transparency principle and its practical implementation. While openness creates political issues for elected officials, the document argues for less control and more empowerment through open data, open decisions, open budgets, open contracts, and open algorithms. Leadership is needed to fully implement open government and drive the necessary culture change towards more transparency.

1. Open Government & Transparency
- the Principle & Practice Conundrum
Jury Konga, Principal
eGovFutures Group
June 28, 2016.

2. Transparency – we have some Issues
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 2

3. Transparency & Open Government
 Transparency a core
principle
 Supports
accountability &
being participatory
 Transparency key to
building TRUST!
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 3
City of Kitchener
Open Government Framework

4. Open Government Partnership
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 4
“We embrace principles of
transparency and open
government with a view toward
achieving greater prosperity, well-
being, and human dignity in our own
countries and in an increasingly
interconnected world. ”
OGP Launched in 2011 with 8 countries.
Now has 69 countries participating.

5. Open Government Partnership
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 5
UK Open Government National
Action Plan 2016-18. May 12, 2016.
Canada’s Open Government Commitments
2016-18. DRAFT: June 16, 2016.
FeedbackbyJune30,2016
New in 2016 Sub-National Membership
“… building a broader network of
governments working to promote
transparency and empower citizens”

6. Transparency
– we have the framework
 Principle & Policy Examples
include
• Federal Access to Information
• Provincial & Municipal FOI
• Municipal Transparency &
Accountability
• Ontario IPC “Privacy by Design” &
“Access by Design”
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 6

7. Transparency
Principle -> Practice Conundrum
 OPEN may create political
issues
 “Yes, I agree with Open
government BUT how do I
control it”
- an elected official
 Less Command & Control,
More Open & Empower
 OPEN everything can address
trust issues with citizens
 Joint responsibilities
between government &
citizens, civil society
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 7
My job is __ & to protect …
My job is __ & to protect …
My job is __ & to
protect …
My job is __ &
to protect …

8. Transparency
– What we need in Practice
 Open Data is foundational
for Open Government
 Open Data pervasive
– not a question of if
… but rather when
 First steps – current state
assessment & pilot project
… learn by doing
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 8
Transparency – Open Data

9. Transparency
– What we need in Practice
 Government processes are
complex - inform
 Open Decisions as part of an open
ecosystem
 Simplify flow – open the process
to citizen input
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 9
Transparency – Open Decisions
DRAFT
Community Input
Decisions based on Input
& Government Goals Continuous
Improvement
© Jury Konga, 2012
Community Activism

10. Transparency
– What we need in Practice
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 10
Financial Transparency – Open Budgets
… we still have too many budgets in pdfs!
A tool for citizen engagement & accountability

11. Transparency
– What we need in Practice
 Open contracts will
help due diligence in
creation
 Post contract
“gothcha” will be
diminished
 Open contracts
creates trust with
citizens
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 11
Transparency – Open Contracts
Component of Canadian Federal DRAFT OGP
Action Plan
“Pilot updating the buyandsell.gc.ca site to
record the full details of contracts (in addition
to awards), contract amendments, and the
final termination of contracts.”

12. Transparency
– What we need in Practice
 Data is core to government
decision making
 Data analyses use many
equations/algorithms/filters
 Difficult to assess government
decisions without understanding
underlying tools used
 Free the algorithms!
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 12
Transparency – Open Algorithms

13. Transparency – Action Today
 Assessing
openness of
open data
 Top 20 “City”
datasets
 67 “Open Data”
local orgs
 Provincial level
coming in fall
2016
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 13
Official launch of Canadian Local Open Data Census
http://ca-city.census.okfn.org/

14. Transparency – the Road Ahead?
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 14
 Leadership needed to “Walk the Talk”
 Full & honest engagement with Civil Society is imperative
 Remove filters on selective #OpenGov
 Culture change MUST happen
 OPEN is the new forever rule

15. Thank you
Jury Konga Transparency & OpenGov 15
jury.konga@outlook.com
Open Knowledge Canada,
Ambassador
Open North, Associate
IPC “Access by Design”
Ambassador
@jkonga
www.slideshare.net/jurykonga