*Introduction*
Every day our lives become a little more connected to the digital world, as technology transforms how we work, learn, shop, and access essential services. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, condensing years of change into the space of a few months. As people sought to protect themselves by physically distancing from each other and staying home, the importance of digital connectivity—and digital connection—was amplified. Suddenly, many organizations and even entire economic sectors had to migrate to digital-first, or digital-only, offerings. And while Canadians can anticipate getting back to some semblance of “normal” as the pandemic abates, digital connectivity will continue to play an increasingly large role in our lives.
The digital transformation of society comes with risks. It can exacerbate existing social inequities, with some benefiting from the economic, social, and educational potential of digital technologies and others being left out. Those who face greater digital inequity can include Indigenous peoples in Canada, low-income households, racialized groups, older adults, rural residents, newcomers to Canada, and many other groups—far more than we can list here.
The pandemic has underscored this inequity, with parts of the population pivoting to a digital-first society at no personal cost and others facing insurmountable barriers to doing the same. For example, while schools in some parts of Canada were able to shift to online learning during the pandemic, others were hindered by poor connectivity; students at one school, in Garden Hill First Nation, even needed to repeat the school year1. A second divide has also developed between digitally empowered organizations that are recovering quickly and their less digitally advanced peers, which are continuing to suffer economic losses.
The digital world has the power to equalize by enabling more people and organizations to benefit from it—as long everyone is able to fully participate in that world. We have not yet ensured everyone is, and as a result, we face leaving parts of society behind.
In our first Catalyst report, A vision for a thriving Canada in 2030, Deloitte outlined a path to a better future. A strong and equitable digital economy is foundational to achieving that vision. It will require business leaders and governments at all levels to take bold action, with concerted effort to invest in digital equity for groups that are falling behind. Canada must take a broader approach to digital equity, one that goes beyond internet access and that applies not only to people but also to organizations. That will allow us to build a stronger, more competitive, and more prosperous society by 2030.
For people, it means a higher quality of life, better-paying jobs, improved educational outcomes, fairer access to essential services, and increased participation in social and cultural activities. It also means better protection of personal data and privacy as well as an online environment that is trusted and secure.
For organizations, it means increased competitiveness, productivity, and resilience in future crises. It means access to a larger consumer base and a higher-skilled talent pool, and a level playing field for organizations regardless of their size or financial backing.
For Canada, it means an economy that rewards inclusive innovation, encourages digital investment and skills training, and guarantees data protection—and reaching that state will allow us to lead globally in equitable growth and shape the digital policies of the future.
As the first in a series, this report will introduce our framing of digital equity, outline the benefits that Canada stands to gain from greater digital equity, and assess the country’s current performance on it. The following reports will provide practical recommendations to policymakers and business leaders, recognizing that both have a vital role to play in building a digitally equitable Canada by 2030.
In this report, organizations refers to corporations, non-profit institutions, unincorporated enterprises, and governments at all levels. These groups both face digital equity barriers themselves and have a role to play in improving digital equity in Canada.
This report used the following methodologies to paint a picture of Canada’s current state of digital equity and to project the challenges we’re likely to face:
Literature review: We conducted an extensive literature review of secondary data sources, including academic journals, media reporting, government policies, and think tank reports. This research informed two strategic foresight methods, driver mapping and visioning, which helped us do two things: understand the trends that will impact digital equity over the next decade and envision a more digitally equitable Canada in 2030.
Data analysis: To understand the country’s current state of digital equity, we analyzed more than 50 data points from secondary data sources and studies (conducted by such organizations as Statistics Canada, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and universities), paying particular attention to specific population-level statistics (where available) as well as peer country comparisons. Our data dashboard brings together secondary data inputs related to digital infrastructure, digital adoption, digital literacy and skills, and policies that impact the broader digital ecosystem.
Specialist workshops: We conducted two workshops with Deloitte subject matter specialists to imagine what the digital space will look like in Canada in 2030 and to understand the broader forces that will shape digital equity over the next decade.
Advisory committee: We convened an advisory committee composed of representatives from organizations with expertise on a range of issues relevant to digital equity. As we develop this report series, the committee will continue to help us understand on-the-ground digital equity challenges by connecting us with the people and information sources that will inform our recommendations.
Advisory committee member organizations: • ABC Life Literacy Canada • The Council of Canadian Innovators • CIO Strategy Council • Maytree Foundation • MediaSmarts • Palette Skills
