CGI Group Inc., the largest Canadian IT services firm, and Service New Brunswick Inc. (SNB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to negotiate an agreement to headquarter CGI's worldwide government service delivery initiative in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Through the agreement, CGI has established its "g-Commerce Lab" at its Fredericton Knowledge Park facilities. As well it will bring SNB's integrated service delivery model to e-government markets around the world.
Premier Bernard Lord says the MOU is a key component of the province's eNB strategy. "It improves government services to New Brunswickers by accelerating the pace of electronic service delivery,'' Lord said. "It is also important because it provides for a much needed investment in e-infrastructure and research and development in the province.''
Mike Roach, CGI's executive vice-president and general manager for Canada said the new initiative would lead to new opportunities and growth at CGI's offices in Fredericton, Saint John and Halifax," He added, "CGI intends to be a significant player in the international government electronic service delivery market, which is forecast to reach CDN $150 billion over the next five years. SNB is a world leader and our close working relationship with them has positioned us to reach our goals."
New Brunswick has gained international recognition as one of the first jurisdictions to successfully initiate and deploy "single window" citizen access to government services. Through SNB, the province integrates traditional and electronic service delivery, offering services from most government departments over-the-counter at one-stop service centres, over the phone at SNB Teleservices and through SNB On-Line.
Peter Mesheau, the minister responsible for SNB, also welcomed the initiative. "Technology has changed the way we live, work and do business. People expect to do business with government as simply and easily as they do business with the private sector. Our government understands this and gives top priority to initiatives that improve the delivery of service. This agreement will enable us to deliver services innovatively, and to provide the things that support e-government such as training and process improvement."
CGI Atlantic senior vice president Al MacDonald added, "The agreement with SNB and the establishment of the g-Commerce Lab are just the beginning of our planned initiatives for the Atlantic region. We will be announcing further investment in the near future that will see other national and international corporate mandates headquartered here." As well, added MacDonald, "discussions for potential partnerships and cooperative projects have already taken place with officials of the National Research Council's recently-announced New Brunswick e-commerce centre."
Service New Brunswick is a crown corporation responsible for making government services more accessible through one-stop service centres, through the Internet (www.snb.ca) and toll-free over the phone (1-888-762-8600). The corporation is responsible for real property assessments, delivery of over 100 government services, the personal property and business registries and the real property registry. It is known internationally for its expertise in these areas, and in the development and maintenance of geographic information databases. The corporation has offices in 35 communities around the province and employs 600 people.
Founded in 1976, CGI is the largest independent Canadian information technology consulting firm and the fifth largest in North America, based on its headcount of close to 10,000 professionals. CGI's order backlog totals approximately CDN$7.0 billion and its revenue stands at CDN$1.4 billion. CGI provides end-to-end IT services and business solutions to 2,500 clients in Canada, United States and more than 20 countries around the world. CGI's shares are listed on the New York Exchange (GIB), as well as on the Toronto Stock Exchange (GIB.A). They are included in the Toronto Stock Exchange's TSE 100 index as well as the S&P/TSE Canadian Information Technology index. Website: www.cgi.ca.
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements represent CGI Group Inc.'s intentions, plans, expectations, and beliefs, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, of which many are beyond the control of the Company. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements.
These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of contracts, acquisitions and other corporate developments, the ability to attract and retain qualified employees, market competition in the rapidly-evolving information technology industry, general economic and business conditions, and other risks identified in Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in CGI Group Inc.'s annual report or Form 40F filed with the US Securities & Exchange Commission and the Company's Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities commissions. All of the risk factors included in these filed documents are included here by reference. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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For more information:
CGI Atlantic
Al Macdonald
Senior vice-president
(506) 458-5020
CGI - media relations
Eileen Murphy
Director, media relations
(514) 841-3430
Premier's office
Amanda Harpelle
Director of communications
(506) 453-2144
Service New Brunswick
Marc Gosselin
Communications officer
(506) 457-7870
