It is reported by the Prairie Linux User Group (PLUG) that resolution 05-JE-04 Free and Open Source Software passed at the 41st Constitutional Convention of the Manitoba New Democratic Party. The NDP are the governing party in the province of Manitoba.
05-JE-04 Free and Open Source Software
Whereas the free software and Open Source movements offer the possibility of a new form of production based on sharing and community cooperation; and
Whereas free and Open Source software is more secure than many commercial alternatives; and
Whereas free and Open Source software is almost never affected by computer viruses and invasive software such as popups and spyware; and
Whereas free and Open Source software projects such as Linux, Open Office, Mozilla, Firefox, and others offer high quality products at little or no cost, thereby empowering users, particularly students, community organizations, and small businesses; and
Whereas Open Office and other software are compatible with file formats from other dominate commercial software such as Microsoft Office; and
Whereas certain government departments in Manitoba have already started to use free and Open Source software without the direction of the government;
Whereas the NDP and the Manitoba Government should be an example in using free and Open Source software because this type of software is available to anyone with a computer independent of their income.
Therefore be it resolved that the Manitoba New Democratic Party give equal consideration to using free and
Open Source software for its internal information; and
Be it further resolved that the Manitoba government ensure that equal consideration be given to using free and Open Source software in all of its departments.
