From Montreal Quebec, to London Ontario, and now Halton region, Ontario, Open Government and Open Data citizen led initiatives are joining the movement throughout Canada for Open.

Nik Garkusha of Microsoft Canada is spearheading the citizen led initiative in Halton Region. Launching the initiative’s website on August 26, 2010, Nik is looking to move and push the Open Government and Open Data agenda in his local area. The citizen led initiative’s website can be found at www.openhalton.ca.

The initiative’s mission is as follows:

Our mission is to drive the Open Data and Open Government agenda in Halton by raising awareness, organizing developers and IT professionals, engaging with citizens and partnering with government, educational and private organizations.

In closing, I would like to say, “Congratulations to Nik and the other members of the Open Halton initiative and wish you all the best with it”. If this anything that I can assist and/or help with for the Open Halton Initiative, please, let me know and feel free to contact me. I look forward to seeing the progress and hopefully having another Municipal Government pass an Open Government or Open Data motion and adopt a policy for Open.