5.3.10

Description: 
We will do a better job of making our residents, particularly those in smaller communities, aware of available government programs and services, and how to access them, through Single Window Service Centres and our Government Service Officers.
Lead Dept: 
EIA
Priority: 
5.3
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Priorities and Planning
Number: 
10
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Governance
Background Information: 

GOVERNANCE

Commitment 5.3.10 – We will do a better job of making our residents, particularly those in smaller communities, aware of available government programs and services, and how to access them, through Single Window Service Centres and our Government Service Officers.

Single Window Service Centres (SWSCs) provide residents in smaller communities with one-stop access to Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) programs and services.  SWSCs are staffed by trained half-time Government Service Officers (GSOs) who provide assistance and advice on government programs and services, serve as community navigators, and provide outreach services, including home visits to elders.  GSOs have been recruited from the communities they serve and many speak and provide service in Indigenous languages.

The Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs (EIA) is working with the federal government (Service Canada) to pilot the delivery of a number of federal programs and services in three SWSCs (Fort Liard, Tuktoyaktuk and Fort Providence), beginning during the 2016/17 fiscal year (Milestone 1).

The most recent SWSC was established on the Kátł’odeeche First Nation in September 2017, bringing the total number of SWSCs to 21 (Milestone 2).  More information on SWSCs, including contact information for each community, can be found here: https://www.eia.gov.nt.ca/en/priorities/access-government-programs-and-services-through-single-window-service-centres.

The Department of EIA will continue to strengthen and expand services available through SWSCs by offering more targeted training to GSOs and support staff to make them more aware of GNWT and federal programs and services (where applicable) to better serve the needs of our residents.  Improvement of the federal pilot programs will be undertaken based on results of an evaluation (Milestone 3).

The SWSC initiative received a national award for outstanding leadership and innovation from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada in 2014.

Links to Other Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 5.3.3 - We will improve collaboration for easier access to government programs and services online, including by:
  • Creating a single integrated online portal for residents and businesses to securely transact with government.
  • Aligning territorial approaches with pan-Canadian efforts to establish and use digital identities for online government.
  • Commitment 5.3.5 – We will establish an Open Government Policy to enhance civic participation, increase the availability and accessibility of information about government activities, and explore new technologies for openness and accountability.

For more information about this initiative, please contact the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs.