National Digital and Data Consultations

Technology has fundamentally changed the way that Canadians access information, work, shop and connect with each other. Digital innovation is essential to growing our economy, attracting investment and creating middle-class jobs.

At the same time, this digital transformation has brought with it new challenges involving how innovation impacts the future of work and Canadians' privacy when it comes to their data.

June 19, 2018: Government of Canada launches national consultations on digital and data transformation

Consulting Canadians

The National Digital and Data Consultations closed in October, 2018.

Through this engagement process Canadians came together to share their vision for a competitive, inclusive, digital and data-driven Canada.

Read the What we heard report to find out more.

The future of work

We want your opinion on how new technologies could impact the way we work, the jobs of tomorrow and the employment landscape.

 

Consultations closed

Unleashing innovation

We want your opinion on how Canadian businesses can remain competitive in a digital age, how they can adapt their traditional approaches, and how they can increase their ability to identify, adopt and implement digital and data

Consultations closed

Trust and privacy

We want your opinion on what is the right balance between supporting innovation and protecting privacy interests while promoting trust when it comes to data.

Consultations closed

 

2018 roundtables

Digital innovation leaders hosted roundtable discussions in cities across Canada with business, academia, civil society and others. Because there is strength in our diversity, the roundtables included women, Indigenous peoples and other under-represented groups.

Minister Navdeep Bains hosted the first roundtable in Ottawa on June 19, 2018. Subsequent cross-Canada roundtables took place in select locations, including Vancouver, Nanaimo, Calgary, Regina, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, St. John's and Whitehorse. There was also a roundtable in Silicon Valley in the United States.

Results

The consultations included 30 roundtable discussions across the country, engaging with more than 550 Canadians. Through our website and online platforms, Canadians shared over 1,900 ideas.

Text version

"We have an opportunity to build a digital legacy for Canada and to become a global innovation leader. However, to spur digital innovation, investment and job creation in Canada, citizens must have trust and confidence that their data and privacy will be protected. This national consultation is a first step in making this vision a reality." – Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development