Marc Brouillard, Chief Technology Officer for the Government of Canada, has called for a digital transformation within the public sector, highlighting the urgent need for IT modernization in our rapidly changing world.
Brouillard states:
As Canada’s economy recovers from the pandemic, the need for digital government is more pronounced than ever: a government that is more open and more collaborative and that provides improved digital-first, user-centred services and programs.
To make digital government a reality in an unpredictable environment, we in the Government of Canada (GC) must modernize how we manage technology and technological change to keep government responsive and resilient so that it meets the changing needs and expectations of Canadians and Canadian businesses.1
Aligned with the government’s decree, and specific to healthcare, the Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy focuses on strengthening the foundations of healthcare data management across the country. The Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy asks government healthcare agencies to:
- modernize health data collection, sharing, and interoperability
- streamline and update their approach to privacy and access
- clarify accountability, sovereignty, and health data governance to bring meaningful change in the way governments share health data
There’s a public rallying cry to support these government-led initiatives. Citizens want the immediacy, convenience, and access that is fostered by digital and data transformation; features that they already receive from the commercial side of the industry. Canadians expect to be able to access government services at any time, on any device. Most citizens agree that government departments should improve interdepartmental communication of personal information, to enable faster, more accurate service and better care.2
However, while Canadian citizens recognize the benefits of a digital and data transformation of the public sector, they are also deeply concerned about how their data is being used and managed, and what is being done to ensure their data remains private and secure.3
Ready or not, it’s time to act on the government’s call for this much-needed digital modernization. But digital transformation requires data transformation, and with it comes the question of what to do with all your data.