Mississauga, ON (December 14, 2021) – TECHNATION, Canada’s leading technology association, is disappointed that technology investment and tech sector issues were largely ignored in the Government of Canada’s 2021 Fall Economic Statement.
TECHNATION raised concerns last month in our response to the Throne Speech that technology investments, policies and digital government, did not seem to be priorities for this government. While we acknowledge that the Omicron variant has meant a return to COVID-19 focused initiatives, it is vital that Canada start making plans to grow the economy. Canada’s tech sector is an important catalyst for economic prosperity and the ongoing growth of the tech industry has helped lessen some of the enduring economic impact of the pandemic.
TECHNATION and its members continue to call on the Government of Canada to work collaboratively with industry on priority issues like improving digital government, identifying solutions to combat online harms and building our national cybersecurity capacity. The primary reference to tech in the Fall Economic Statement was the Digital Services Tax and we will participate in the stakeholder engagement on the Act to implement a Digital Services Tax that was introduced today.
In late October, just days before Cabinet was announced, TECHNATION released the Roadmap for Sustained Growth in Canada’s Tech Sector highlighting four focus areas that government must address to help the tech sector drive Canada’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Our Roadmap was shared with Prime Minister Trudeau, Leaders of the Opposition, and key Cabinet Ministers with responsibility for issues relating to the tech industry.
It is now 85 days since the 2021 federal election and there is no time to delay. Ministerial mandate letters need to be released for industry to understand this government’s ongoing tech priorities. We want to work collaboratively with government leaders on developing strategies that will combine Canada’s digital transformation agenda with an economic development agenda. Canada’s technology sector is an economic engine that is creating the jobs of today, and tomorrow. It needs to be a priority for this government.
– 30 –
About TECHNATION
TECHNATION is the authoritative national voice for Canada’s $230 billion information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Canada’s 44,000 ICT firms directly and indirectly generate over 1.2 million jobs in Canada. The ICT industry in Canada also creates and supplies goods and services that contribute to a more productive, competitive, and innovative economy and society. Our membership ranges from large multinational platforms, to leading Canadian internet-service providers (ISP) to cutting edge domestic tech companies.
For over 60 years TECHNATION, formerly the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), has been the industry-government nexus for technology prosperity in Canada. As a member-driven, not-for-profit, vendor-neutral TECHNATION unites Canada’s technology sector, governments, and communities to enable technology prosperity from coast to coast. Our top ten largest companies collectively employ over 92,000 Canadians in every region of the country.
Media Contact:
Sarah Coombs
416-729-8550