Shaping Policy, Driving Innovation: Highlights from TECHNATION’s 2025 Hill Day

On November 20, TECHNATION held its annual Hill Day, bringing together government and industry leaders to discuss sector-wide challenges and propose actionable solutions.

TECHNATION’s Kevin d’Entremont, President and CEO; Prateek Sureka, EVP, Government Relations and Strategy; and Cait Drouillard, Senior Director, Public Policy led the delegation, joined by representatives from member companies Alphinat, Amazon Web Services, D2L, Equinix, Infosys Public Services, Kyndryl, Lenovo, Snowflake, Tata Consultancy Services, and TELUS.

Digital Sovereignty in Canada

The day kicked off with a high-level roundtable on Digital Sovereignty in Canada bringing together TECHNATION members with Public Safety Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Treasury Board Secretariat. Discussions focused on how digital sovereignty is shaping approaches to risk, procurement, and modern service delivery, with an emphasis on practical, solutions-oriented dialogue. Participants also explored what it will take to build a “sovereign-capable” ecosystem in Canada that strengthens security and resilience while preserving innovation and trusted partnerships — moving beyond policy to become a practical framework that delivers results.

Federal Hill Day

Following the morning roundtable, participants broke out into two advocacy tracks: Advancing Federal Procurement Modernization, and Public Policy Impacting Canada’s Digital Future. Members engaged with MP Jenna Sudds, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Procurement and Digital Transformation; MP Jacques Ramsay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety; MP Kelly Block, Shadow Critic for Procurement; MP Raquel Dancho, Shadow Minister for Industry; and officials from Privy Council Office; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; National Defence; Employment and Social Development Canada; and Shared Services Canada.

Central to the discussions was the importance of partnering with the vendor community to help the government achieve its ambitious digital transformation objectives.

Advancing Federal Procurement Modernization

TECHNATION and its members addressed key challenges facing Canadian tech firms in federal procurement, offering practical, solution-oriented recommendations. They called for government to modernize procurement with a practical, inclusive ‘Made in Canada’ strategy that reflects global best practices and drives job creation. By reforming procurement, building public service capacity, and unlocking SME participation, Canada can strengthen digital sovereignty and ensure its tech ecosystem remains globally competitive.

Public Policy Impacting Canada’s Digital Future

TECHNATION and its members addressed key policy issues facing Canada’s tech sector, including reinforcing cyber resilience across critical infrastructure, Canada’s AI strategy, and Canada’s privacy legislation, proposing action on three critical fronts to strengthen Canada’s digital economy. Bill C‑8 must be refined to align with global cybersecurity standards, narrowing its definition of incidents and provide clear guidance on supply chain risks. Canada’s AI strategy should establish a national framework that unites academia, industry, and government, backed by stronger commercialization supports, modernized incentives, and streamlined talent pathways. Finally, stalled privacy reforms threaten Canada’s global standing; future legislation must align with international privacy standards, balance innovation with accountability, and provide flexible compliance for SMEs. Together, these measures will secure Canada’s digital future and keep its tech ecosystem globally competitive.

A Collaborative Path Forward

TECHNATION’s Hill Day underscored the power of collaboration between government and industry to tackle the most pressing challenges facing Canada’s digital economy. With government and industry working together, Canada has the opportunity to modernize procurement, strengthen digital sovereignty, and unlock the full potential of its tech ecosystem to build a digital future rooted in innovation, collaboration and global competitiveness.

Learn more about TECHNATION’s Advocacy and Policy work here.