I have to say, this @ThinkDigitalCA podcast with Minister @terrybeech was really inspiring. I have long been frustrated with the lack of political leadership in the digitization of public services — at all levels of government in Canada. I recently wrote an OpEd on the topic titled “While other countries add services, Canada adds public servants” (lnkd.in/e7hCwYxi). Minister Beech acknowledges that Canada has rapidly fallen behind as the rest of the world digitizes (falling from 3rd to 32nd), and that there is nothing stopping us from from digitizing 90% of federal services (versus 24% today). The fact that Ukraine has migrated its government to a digital platform, while fighting an existential war, demonstrates that all that we’ve been missing in Canada is political leadership. With some experience and a couple of early successes under his belt, I am hopeful that Minister Beech is actually securing that essential political and bureaucratic support. It’s essential if Canadians are to benefit from convenient, seemless, easy-to-use, secure, and cost-efficient digital government services, like those we use every day in every other area of our lives. Here are some of the messages that stuck out for me: - Change policies and procedures first! I could not agree more. Ottawa’s bureaucratic culture seemingly rewards the creation of complicated policies. By contrast, Ukraine has as many team members simplifying policies, regulations and legislation as developing software code. The Minister “gets” that some of earliest and biggest opportunities to improve exist here and cited several examples. - Stop siloing data within individual departments. Canadians should know the information that various departments have about them and be able to access and control it through a single portal. This could enable government to immediately and obviously offer a government program to all who are eligible (vs them scouring hundreds of government sites to find a program or relying on seeing an ad). - Consider the build or buy question up-front. This would open a huge opportunity for government to work with exceptional innovators outside of government. - And, most importantly, let’s give Canadians the ability to securely control their identity online. I’m frustrated that “tin foil hat” conspiracy theories are blocking me (and other Canadians) from accessing the HUGE security, privacy and control benefits that Digital Credentials will deliver. I encourage you to listen to this podcast …and to hold the Minister and government to account for achieving the promised and expected results. He lays out a bold and, in my mind, essential vision. He get’s the problem and what is needed to achieve some easy wins. There are signs of progress, but results matter. The most important result? Seemless and secure services that give citizens greater control, and that are continuously improved. #DigitalGovernment #GovTech