Canada sets out 'Digital Ambition' with focus on smarter, secure, and citizen-centric services

The Government of Canada has unveiled its Digital Ambition 2024–25, a strategic plan aimed at modernising public services to better meet the evolving needs of Canadians. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to harnessing modern technology and data to enhance service delivery, ensuring accessibility, security, and reliability across the nation.

"Since my arrival in February 2024, I’ve witnessed first-hand the tremendous work being done across departments on digital government," said Dominic Rochon, Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada. "This is happening against a backdrop of several government-wide initiatives that will influence the way we work over the coming months and years, including Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s refocusing government spending initiative, a renewal of our values and ethics guidance, and a re-examination of policy risks and operations oversight."

Rochon further highlighted the shifting landscape of government digital strategy, noting: "The years of pandemic-fuelled digital acceleration and rapid development have left the Government of Canada’s digital community in a much different place than it was just a short time ago. This provides an important opportunity to refocus our core priorities."

Central to this vision is the Digital Ambition, which sets clear long-term objectives for how the government will put people, policy, and technology first to best deliver for Canadians. To achieve these goals, the Digital Ambition revolves around four specific outcomes:

1. User-Centric Services: Ensuring that government services are designed with the user in mind, fostering trust and accessibility.
2. Data-Driven Decision Making: Positioning data and information as foundational elements for service delivery and informed policymaking.
3. Innovative and Secure Technology: Leveraging technology to promote innovation, enhance efficiency, and bolster security measures.
4. Digitally Skilled Workforce: Cultivating a workforce that is adept and adaptable to the ever-changing digital landscape.

"This is a shift to a more focused Digital Ambition. It ensures that all organisations in the federal government are aligned to the same outcomes as we continue to confront pressing digital challenges," Rochon explained.

The Digital Ambition also addresses the rapid advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has been active in developing the country’s first AI Strategy for the federal public service, aiming to enhance productivity, expand scientific research capabilities, and improve services for Canadians.

In tandem with these efforts, the government is investing in sustainable technological infrastructure. Notably, a proposal has been made to allocate up to £8.3bn billion to encourage major domestic pension funds to invest in AI data centres powered by green energy, reflecting Canada’s dedication to environmentally responsible technological advancement.

Just as in the UK, the Canadian Government's reliance on outdated information technology systems poses significant challenges to digital transformation. The Office of the Auditor General has highlighted that many critical services are supported by technology that is decades old, making modernisation efforts both costly and complex.

Plans to implement a federal Digital Identity Program have elicited mixed reactions. While intended to streamline access to services, concerns about privacy and government overreach persist. Public consultations have revealed apprehensions about data security and the potential misuse of personal information.

Despite these challenges, Canada’s Digital Ambition 2024–25 represents a step towards a more modern, efficient, and citizen-focused government. By focusing on user-centric design, data-driven policy, innovation, and workforce upskilling, the government is seeking to navigate the complexities of digital transformation while addressing legitimate concerns.