Ottawa, June 29, 2021— A vibrant and inclusive smart economy will increasingly depend on “smart” governments that harness technology to enhance its decision-making and services. A digital transformation of all levels of government calls upon new skills and a culture of innovation that builds on collaboration between experts and citizens.
The construct of smart government furthers critical facets of inclusion and accessibility, fostering equitable access to technology, technology devices, infrastructure, and digital literacy.
A key component of community inclusion and citizen engagement is data collection and sharing, which will underscore the need to ensure privacy for citizens. This will mean designing systems with privacy in mind from the outset, helping the public understand the value of privacy, and effective regulation.
ICTC’s policy roundtable unveils trends on the make up of smart governance to support a vibrant and inclusive smart economy. These are some of the insights gathered from the fourth in a series of six Smart City Policy Roundtables hosted by ICTC. It took place online in March 2021 on the topic of Smart Government and brought together more than 30 thought leaders from across Canada.
Dr. Ann Cavoukian, former Information and Privacy Commissioner for Ontario and inventor of Privacy by Design, provided a keynote presentation at the start of the roundtable.
“In tomorrow’s smart economy, the construct of connected governments is critical for continuing to heighten citizen engagement, expand on-demand services, and encourage innovations. Good data governance will be critical for delivering better outcomes for citizens and businesses,” said Namir Anani, ICTC President and CEO.
The next ICTC roundtable will take place in summer 2021 on the topic of Smart Health.
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a not-for-profit, national centre of expertise for strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in a global economy. Through trusted research, practical policy advice, and creative capacity-building programs, ICTC fosters globally competitive Canadian industries enabled by innovative and diverse digital talent. In partnership with an expansive network of industry leaders, academic partners, and policy makers from across Canada, ICTC has empowered a robust and inclusive digital economy for over 25 years.
To arrange an interview with an ICTC research author of this brief or other media inquiries, please contact Paul Stastny at @email or 403.351.0138 Ext. 823.
This study was funded by Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program.
A copy of the study can be accessed here.
A French language version of this press release is available here.
