We are officially in the second wave of COVID-19. This is evident in the increasing number of infections that are released daily. Canada, according to modelling data, will continue to see a rise in the number of cases. As the despair of the situation continues to unfold, some see hope in a vaccine that can control and ultimately obliterate the virus.
As we draw closer to a potential vaccine, CGE Columnist Jeffrey Roy writes about how cultivating public trust has never been more crucial. Trust was greatly impacted early on during the pandemic when misinformation was spread across media platforms. The WHO describes this sort of misinformation as infodemics, which can “hamper an effective public health response and create confusion and distrust among people.” A poll conducted during the summer revealed that 35 per cent of the population believed mainstream media outlets were spreading false information about COVID-19, while 18 per cent believed the pandemic was a tool of government control. The challenge that Roy points out is that we need to lessen and contain suspicion and deepen and widen trust.
With COVID being an adversary that seems like we are unable to knock out, many are having COVID fatigue. Hugh Stephens, who at one time managed Time Warner’s public policy program in the Asia Pacific for Turner Broadcasting, HBO, Warner Bros, Time Inc., and AOL, writes about this frustration and its effects on culture. COVID-19 is affecting artists’ livelihoods and threatens to stifle creativity and inspiration. Although they can still create, without outlets for their work, the creative spirit is dampened. He points out that the online world provides an alternative platform that works better for some forms of creativity than others, but it is not a substitute for the human interaction that participation in a live cultural event brings to both audiences and performers, consumers and artists.
Retail sales in Canada reached $55.1 billion dollars in August this year, up 0.9 per cent when compared with August 2019. Out of 19 commodity categories, 10 reported higher sales than the previous period. Canadians are spending more on home improvement projects, food, and work from home equipment and supplies. This is not surprising given the “isolation” stance that was taken with the pandemic. Take a moment and review the Dashboard in this edition to understand our spending habits during COVID-19.
Adjusting to the “new normal” has brought about a rapid acceleration of digital transformation in government and across all industries. Public sector organizations are making significant progress with technology. So, what can we expect in the future? Brian Chidester, Principal Industry Strategist for Public Sector at OpenText shares some emerging trends in government tech post-COVID that we can look for like digital transformation, digital citizen experience, digital platforms, IT modernization, automation, and AI.
The impact of the pandemic on mental health is a grave concern. Due to widespread job loss, many people have decided to become entrepreneurs and start their own business. Dr. Alok Trivedi, a health, human behaviour, and national stress reduction expert writes that even though this is great, unfortunately, many people don’t know what they are getting into and quickly find themselves stressed out, depressed, and overwhelmed. But what if it didn’t have to be this way? How can these new entrepreneurs build their new businesses while staying mentally healthy? He shares six tips on how to get this right.
Other articles in this issue focus on digital transformation and AI, modern data centres, leading inclusive workplaces, and disciplines of inclusive leaders.
Canadian Government Executive – Volume 26 – Issue 05
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