The Canadian government is serious about encouraging its citizens to innovate in the data economy and has launched a new program on digital and data transformation to understand where the country is now and provide guidance on how to reap the benefits of this new way of working and living.
New technology has transformed the way we access information, shop, live, socialize and work. Earlier this year the Government of Canada launched a national consultation on digital and data transformation. The Canada-wide consultation will help the government understand how Canadians want to drive innovation in a data economy, prepare for the future of work and ensure that citizens have trust and confidence in how their data is used.
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, today announced that six innovation experts have been selected to host these roundtable discussions with Canadians across the country. Many of these leaders were part of the Innovation Agenda consultations in 2016 that supported the development of the Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan, announced in Budget 2017.
The digital innovation leaders are:
- Janie Béïque, Executive Vice-President, Investments, Fonds de solidarité FTQ
- Dr. Arvind Gupta, professor of computer science at the University of Toronto and former president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia
- Sarah Lubik, Director of Entrepreneurship for Simon Fraser University
- Carole Piovesan, lawyer with McCarthy Tétrault
- Mark Podlasly, founder of Brookmere Management Group
- Ilse Treurnicht, former CEO of MaRS Discovery District
From early August to mid-September, these leaders will host roundtable discussions on digital and data transformation in cities across Canada with business, academia, civil society and others. Target cities for roundtables include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, St. John’s, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit.
Recognising the strength that is inherent in Canada’s population diversity, the roundtables will include women, Indigenous peoples and other under-represented groups.
Those interested in attending a roundtable in person should contact ic.digitaldataconsultations-consultationsnumeriquesdonnees.ic@canada.ca and include their contact information and preferred target location.
All Canadians are invited to participate in the National Digital and Data Consultations online.
The consultations are the next step in the Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan and will provide the information needed to boost competitiveness and secure Canada’s position as a global innovation leader.