PDAC Perspectives How the OGS can serve its Toronto clientele

In July, 1986, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) announced its decision to relocate from Toronto to Sudbury. Industry sources immediately expressed concern as to how this would affect critical services provided by the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) and MNDM to Toronto-based clients. At the time there were no definitive answers from MNDM, other than a commitment by David Peterson, then premier and minister of mines, that something would be done to continue services. As will happen with time, the hue and cry eventually died down.

At the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, however, a small group of individuals comprising the association’s geological surveys committee has been working steadily over the past four years on the problem of service delivery to Toronto clients once relocation has occurred.

Discussions with MNDM on this matter have benefited from the direct interest of Deputy Minister Brock Smith. Mr. Smith encouraged the formation of an ad hoc committee of MNDM officials and charged them with the task of working with the PDAC, not only to listen to industry concerns but also to come up with a working model on how to deal with Toronto client service needs. A consensus was reached last July, and the following highlights some of the more important aspects.

— Fundamental to the concept of delivering services to Toronto clientele is the approach of a single, integrated centre. It would provide from one facility services related to assessment files data, mineral claims data, mining recording office services, geoscientific and geotechnical information, geoscientific staff support and effective communication links with the OGS and MNDM head offices in Sudbury. The centre should be located in the Toronto core, accessible from the subway system.

— Assessment file information and services will be provided through a computer system which is currently being developed. The computer system will be designed with an emphasis on user friendliness and a recognition of the need to duplicate and improve where possible the browsing and search process which clients presently employ with the hard copy files.

The new system will have the capability of printing out hard copies of maps and text files as requested by the client. The system will be operational at least six months prior to relocation. The hard copy of the assessment files are destined for Sudbury. However, MNDM has agreed that they will remain in Toronto until the computerized version is fully operational.

— It is anticipated that eventually the computer system will be installed in all regional and district offices across the province, making the information available to all Ontario users.

— The working model calls for the centre to include a library. The holdings will contain all publications by the Ontario Department of Mines, OGS and Geological Survey of Canada, selected journals and texts, reference indexes and publications relevant to jurisdictions bordering Ontario. The holdings in the main OGS library situated in Sudbury will be available to the Toronto facility on loan.

— The existing services and products of the Southern Ontario Mining recorder’s office will be integrated into the main centre and will be expanded to provide mining claim information services for the whole province. The service centre will also be a sales outlet for publications and maps that are produced by MNDM and OGS and that are now only available through a separate office handling all Ontario government publications.

— The service centre will include two fully qualified geologists to provide geoscientific support and program information for the province. Free telephone, facsimile transmission and mail services will be provided from Toronto to Sudbury and all resident geologists’ offices.

No doubt the OGS will be sorely missed when it moves to Sudbury in 1992. However, the centre envisaged should be effective in delivering a lean, mean and efficient service to Toronto clients with potential improvements arising from computer technology.

Making the concept into a reality now depends on successful presentation by MNDM to the management board of cabinet, the body responsible for overseeing the government’s spending and management practices.