digitaleconomy.gc.ca

Shaping Canada’s Digital Strategy

While Canada has moved backward in OECD’s list of investments in digital technologies, and as the world is going digital and we are slowing down in ICT productivity growth, this is a good time for the Government of Canada and for all Canadians, businesses and individuals, to develop a strategy for developing the digital economy as it is becoming the economy of tomorrow. This strategy should address short-term challenges and long-term goals.
Some sectors are developed on digital technology as a main component of that sector. Our beloved Canada should not hold a sector hostage until other sectors are technologically savvy, that might never take place. For example, digital technology is a main component of the aerospace industry and Canada can’t slow down development of ICT in this sector until the foundation of all sectors is complete and implemented. This is a matter of national importance. For the short-term goal Canada should focus on increasing innovation in key sectors, while at the same time for the long term-goal provide for the foundation for innovation in ICT across the economy, as such distribution needs time and patience.
To see SMEs implement ICT in their business, I’ll need to conduct a field survey in order to answer 3 questions: (1) where do SMEs stand in terms of using ICT in their business; (2) what is the available technology for them; (3) what do they wish for to speed up adoption of ICT and increase productivity and innovation regarding this sector. This survey, I believe, should guide us when putting a strategy as to where to start from and what to aim for in our strategy and how to get there?
To take a proceeding step, I believe SMEs will want easy-to-use applications in their businesses. Here comes the role of R&D and software programmers. As I have developed some computer programs during my college work, and as I want to be a software developer, I can say with confidence that to make a complicated application easier to use that needs a sophisticated program.
Governments can play an important role in deploying digital technology.
As a model user, the Canadian Government is playing a great role in promoting ICT. As more Canadians are doing their work with the government through the internet like issuing legal documents and filing for taxes, they are introduced to the great benefits, ease, and cost-effectiveness of using computers in their work. These introduction and interaction with ICT will encourage Canadians whether individuals or enterprises to accelerate implementation of ICT in their work.
By accelerating the implementation of ICT in SMEs by deploying the above strategy, as a component of the over whole strategy, I believe ICT share to the GDP could easily double through the next 5 years.