Canadian Government Executive - Volume 24 - Issue 06

18 / Canadian Government Executive // December 2018/January 2019 DIGITAL GOVERNMENT A nd yet, Canada’s rank on the United Nations E-Government Development Index has gone from third in 2010 to 23rd in 2018. It’s not that Canada’s score has fallen; it’s that we’ve been leapfrogged by coun- tries like Denmark, Australia and Britain that have made significant improvements. We’ve taken an incremental and risk- averse approach, while these countries are disrupting and rethinking their business models from top to bottom. This is our wakeup call. But there’s rea- son to be optimistic as there are initiatives underway to advance Canada’s digital government transformation. Consider the following digital government building blocks: 1. Digital-first Mindset It is imperative that governments think digital-first as the cornerstone of faster, better service delivery. And it’s more than a catchy phrase; it requires a focus on skills, tools and approach. The creation of Canada’s first minister of digital government sends a good signal. That position is currently held by Minister Scott Brison. The establishment of the Ca- nadian Digital Service to support federal organizations as they build capacity and develop better digital services is another step in the right direction. And finally, Can- ada’s participation in the Digital 9 – coun- tries at the forefront of digital government – will pay dividends in helping Canada collaborate and share best practices. And People already know the world is digital and that the best organizations interact with them on the device and channel of their choice. They expect a personalized and seamless experience, whether from their bank, their telecommunications provider or the government. Digital government by Lori Watson and Heather Meek in Canada: Mov ing f rom good to great