Ottawa is introducing a new federal entity, Digital Transformation Canada, focused on leveraging digital technologies to enhance Canadians’ access to government services. The Prime Minister’s Office revealed this initiative on Thursday, highlighting the organization’s goals of improving technology development, procurement, and utilization within the government.
The appointment of Patrick Pichette as the CEO of Digital Transformation Canada was also announced. Pichette, previously Google’s chief financial officer and an executive at Bell Canada, McKinsey, and Spring Canada, brings extensive expertise in digital transformation and organizational innovation to the role.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed confidence in Pichette’s capabilities, emphasizing the significance of enhancing digital solutions, such as artificial intelligence, across government operations to streamline processes, reduce costs, and bolster digital security and sovereignty.
Carney underscored the importance of modernizing public service delivery, minimizing duplication, and fostering the growth of Canadian technology companies to strengthen the economy, enhance outcomes for citizens, and position Canada as a leader in the digital era.
The newly established agency will focus on equipping public servants with tools to streamline administrative tasks, enhancing service delivery efficiency. Furthermore, it will allocate federal resources to support Canadian AI and digital enterprises in testing, scaling, and commercializing innovative technologies.
Digital Transformation Canada will operate under the leadership of Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works, and Procurement Joël Lightbound, consolidating Shared Services Canada with components of the Treasury Board Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada.