Digital Trust & Cyber Security
All Canadian jurisdictions, including provinces, territories, indigenous self-governments and the federal government must empower individuals and businesses with convenient, privacy-respectful, and trustworthy digital services. Now more than ever, Canadians expect more access, with greater safety and security, to high-value services in both the public and private sectors across Canada, and globally.
Investment in digital trust reduces fraud, increases people’s online confidence, and streamlines and simplifies service delivery. It demonstrates BC’s commitment to modernization efforts and a thriving digital economy, and benefits both the public and private sectors.
Research shows that most people expect the government to take the lead in protecting people’s information online. Governments are also uniquely positioned to improve the online safety and security of services. Further, if government does not respond to this intersection of expectation and capability with a coordinated approach, independent organizations could step in with siloed solutions and inconsistent measures to address security, privacy and inclusiveness.
BC, Ontario and Québec are investing and collaborating on a new digital trust technology, known as digital credentials. These credentials empower people and give them more control of how they share their personal information. It’s highly secure and tamper-resistant, and supports people communicating online privately and confidentially. It is an open and interoperable technology. BC is continuing to explore its potential as part of a gradual rollout. We anticipate other jurisdictions will be joining this collaboration in the near future. Notable, in September, the BC Digital Wallet was made available in the Apple App Store and Google Play to a limited set of lawyers as part on this continuing work.
Success in digital trust will rely upon the broad adoption of interoperable solutions (such as digital credentials) across Canada and with our trading partners. As a result, we intend for other provinces and territories to be able to join our solutions at a greatly reduced effort. We are also increasing our collaborations with pan-Canadian colleagues on technologies, solutions, and communications.
